Knicks are out, but the future is still bright

Alright, the rollercoaster ride that was the New York Knicks season is over. The Boston Celtics made sure that the Knicks didn’t even get a game, and walked off the court at Madison Square Garden with visions of an NBA Championship dancing in their head.
For the Knicks, the end is certainly a huge disappointment. While I don’t know many people who thought New York would win the series, everyone figured they would be good for a game or two. While they certainly had their chance to push the issue in games 1 and 2, it was not to be. Boston moves on, New York begins the long summer.
But, this shouldn’t really dampen what was a transcendent year for the Knickerbockers. For almost a decade, this team was a non-factor. There wasn’t a reason to go and cheer in MSG. Even going to boo was a futile point. The Knicks were just bad.
Now, there is hope.
Carmelo Anthony had two HUGE games in the series against the Celtics (games 2 and 4). Amare Stoudemire had a terrific game 1 and was injured from that point forward. Both are stars. Anthony is, in my opinion, one of the top five players in the league and Stoudemire might be one of the most skilled big men to ever play in the NBA. There is a foundation there for the next several years. There is a future.
Now, the question is, where do you go from here?
Well, considering the only players under contract for next year are Melo, Amare, Landry Fields, and Toney Douglas, there promises to be, yet again, more turnover.
The big question will be, do the Knicks bring back Chauncey Billups and pay him the $14.2 million, or let him walk and pay him $4 million? A few weeks ago, I would have said there is no question they will bring him back. However, after a couple of injuries and some less than stellar play down the stretch, you have to wonder if the Knicks will want to pay him $14 million, even if it is only one year.
Here is something to consider: if you operate under the assumption that the Knicks will not be in a great position to trade for a point guard this offseason (the only assets they have under contract is Landry Fields) then the only opportunity would come in free agency. A quick look at that crop isn’t very inspiring. In fact, there isn’t one free agent point guard that would peak the Knicks interest except for Rodney Stuckey, who the Pistons will almost surely look to keep (he’s a restricted free agent). However, the following year, the market would be flooded with potential point guards.
Forget the big two (Chris Paul and Doron Williams), here is a list of some other restricted and unrestricted point guards who are scheduled to hit free agency in 2012:  Kirk Henrich, DJ Augustin, Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Jameer Nelson, Steve Nash, and Andre Miller (note: I didn’t mention Derek Rose because, well, let’s face it, he won’t be available).
Look at that list. Even if half those guys sign, even if the biggest names come off, there is a lot from which to choose. Heck, the Knicks could even look to bring back a guy like Felton, who thrived in New York, under the system, and could fit well in the system.
That’s why I think the Knicks bring back Billups. There isn’t anything out there in free agency this year that makes sense and 2012 offers the possibilities of either Paul or Williams, but even if they are not available, a lot of quality guys will be. Let Billups run the show, let Douglas get a good amount of playing time, and hope the old veteran stays healthy.
So, let’s say your starting lineup next year includes Amare, Melo, and Billups. That, to me, means the Knicks need to add a center and a shooting guard. I know some will say “what about Landry Fields?” I think Landry is the perfect sixth man. I think his most value is coming off the bench. I would rather see the Knicks get a shooting guard and let Fields come off the bench with the second unit, which would also include Douglas.
That means the Knicks must look at a big man and a shooting guard. Who should they target?
Here are a few names:
*Samuel Dalembert - Sam is a big body at 6’10” and 260 pounds. He isn’t a huge scorer but, let’s face it, the Knicks won’t need a huge scorer at center. They need a big man with some athleticism who can rebound, block shots, and play defense. That is Dalembert in a nutshell. He’s tough minded and ready to compete on the inside, and his presence would allow Stoudemire to move to his natural power forward position and freelance defensively.
*Nene Hillario - This would officially make the Knicks Denver East. Nene was a teammate of Melo and Chauncey with the Nuggets, and he is one of the most athletic, active big men in the league. Plus, at 29, he seems to be coming into his own. The problem: one would assume Nene will cost, and you wonder if the Knicks would be willing to anti up for Nene with the idea of signing Paul or Williams in 2012 ever present.
*Tyson Chandler - Somewhat like Nene, Chandler is one of the most athletic big men in the league, however, he doesn’t have the offensive moves Nene does. He’s a better defender and rebounded, though, and he would be a handful to deal with. Plus, in a Mike D’Antoni system, Chandler might become a more consistent offensive threat because he can get up and down so well. Like Nene, though, one assumes Chandler will come with a fairly sizeable price tag.
*Mike Dunleavy - I think Mike Dunleavy has always been expected to be too much. First, he isn’t a small forward. He’s a shooting guard with small forward size. At the three, he gets beat up and pushed around. At the two, he can be a mismatch. I’m not exactly sure if Indiana would want to part ways with him since the Pacers are excited with the team they have assembled, but I also think the Pacers could afford to let Dunleavy go, and the sharp shooter would provide D’Antoni with that three point two guard he loves.
*Nick Young - Young is young (like that?), athletic, and an unrestricted free agent on the Wizards. They might bring him back. They also might let him walk. If they do, the Knicks would be smart to explore him at the two.
*Sam Young - Another Young, just with less of a resume than Nick. I like Sam Young a lot. He’s a  very good shooter, far more athletic than people give him credit for, and he played at Pittsburgh in college, so you know he’s tough. Young plays on a team that seems to have shooting guards all over the roster, so it might be that the Grizz decide not to pick up their team option. If not, he might be a steal for the Knicks.

Finally, the Knicks do actually have a draft pick in the first round this year. It’s hard to know who will be available at pick 17, but in looking at the early mock drafts (useless, I know, but it’s all I got to go on) there seems to be a crop of players that will be available around there. Of course, there’s a chance that the Bronx’s own, Kemba Walker drops to the Knicks, and that would be great for both parties, but that is highly unlikely. So, here are a few names the Knicks could consider:  Markieff Morris, Tristan Thompson, Nolan Smith, Kenneth Faried, Chris Singleton, and Klay Thompson.
Of course, there is an outside chance one Jimmer Fredette falls to the Knicks, and then they would have a real choice to make, but I think that crop mentioned above would be what the Knicks are looking at.
Nothing in there would make you call the MSG box office for tickets to the finals, but as has been stated before, with Melo and Amare, what you’re looking for isn’t stars, you’re looking for real quality players and the Knicks could certainly find that out of such a crop.

So, if I had my way, what would the Knicks look like next years?
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Nick Young
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Nene Hillario

Second unit:
Toney Douglas
Landry Fields
Bill Walker
Kenneth Faried (draft)
Jared Jeffries

I actually like that team, right?

Better Late Than Never..........MLB Predictions

I have decided to put my revulsion for MLB's decision to schedule Opening Day on a Thursday, which has all the magic of a visit to the dentist for a moller checkup, behind me and focus on one main theme: from this point through the end of September, baseball is back and will be with us, everyday, like a friendly pet meeting us at the door.

It might be sleeting out my window right now, and temperatures might not want to rise above 50 for the next three weeks, but baseball signifies the end of bad weather, the beginning of warm spring and summer days, cookouts, and weekends at the beach. The elevator music to all of that......is baseball.

As I write this, it is 12:52 p.m. and Yankee/Tigers is about 15 minutes from starting up. What better time to do my predictions for MLB 2011?

I actually began this a while ago, but my adult ADD kicked in bigtime when Uconn went on a magical run and I ended up going on vacation to Las Vegas. March Madness combined with Sin City will help you lose a couple of weeks.

But, there is no time like the present, so without further ado, here is my MLB preview:

American League East

Red Sox

Yankees

Blue Jays

Rays

Orioles

Division overview – Look, everything inside of me screams when I write “Red Sox” in first place, but let's be honest here; this version of the Sox has few weaknesses. Sure, Josh Beckett and John Lackey could be extraordinarily mediocre, and Jonathan Paplebon could become a problem both on and off the field, but that would only knock a few wins off this team's season. The truth is, that team was pretty darn good even having been nailed with injury after injury last year. If they are healthy, the team's additions (Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford) will turn that offense into a juggernaut.

Feel free to count out the Yankees if you want, but, with the addition of Rafael Soriano, they have one of the best bullpens in the majors and their offense, if they get expected bounceback years from Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and everyone else not named Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, the offense will be every bit the equal of the Sox. The question? The pitching. Anyone who tells you they know what AJ Burnett, Phil Hughes, and Ivan Nova are going to do in 2011 are lying. No one knows. If they all pitch lights out, the Yanks have a chance for number 28. If they all spit the bit, it will be a tough 162. Only time will tell.

I think both the Blue Jays and the Rays will be in it most of the year. I am taking the Jays over the Rays for third. I love their pitching (Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero) and the offense should be better, even assuming a lesser year from Jose Bautista (no way he gets close to 54 homers in '011). I am not in love with their bullpen, and I just don't trust them enough to nip the Yankees, but I think they are good enough to hold off the Rays.

As for Tampa, look, their pitching has a lot of good young talent. David Price is my early pick for Cy Young. I love Wade Davis, and Mark Hellickson seems like the real deal. But, they have no bullpen and a very, very shaky offense. Sure, Evan Longoria is a top, top player, and I actually am a Ben Zobrist fan (he'll be more like his 2009 self than 2010). But, after that, are you really confident Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon are both going to spit in Father Time's eye? They will have to in order for the Rays to be similar to what they were last year. I don't think they fall into irrelevancy, but I think they fall to fourth.

Baltimore finds itself in its usual spot: fourth place. I was all ready to root hard for the O's this year (except when they play against the Yankees, of course) but then Buck Showalter made those asinine comments about Jeter and Theo Epstein, and it got me back on the Orioles haterade train. Honestly, I think the O's have some things to feel good about. I believe Adam Jones is ready for a breakout year, as is Matt Wieter behind the plate, and I believe that Mark Reynolds is going to put up prodigeous home run and strikeout numbers playing at Camden. I like the lineup, but I am not a believer in the pitching. I know they love Brian Matusez, who looked good down the stretch, but I've never seen the kid pitch once and thought “that is electric stuff.” Can he be a good pitcher? No doubt. Is he carrying a rotation or winning a Cy Young? No way. After that, who knows.

The future is brighter for the O's, but they'll have to find those glimmers of hope staring up, once again, from last place.

American League Central

Tigers

Twins

White Sox

Royals

Indians

Division overview — I like the Tigers. Call me a sucker for Jim Leyland and his brand of old school baseball. I just love their offense, believe that Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez will have big years, love the Victor Martinez addition, and I like their rotation more than most. Justin Verlander won 18 games last year, and I didn't even think he was that great. Wayne Scherzer showed promise as a good number two starter behind Verlander and Ricky Porcello is a perfect fit for the number three hole (he could be a top of the rotation talent, but no worse than the third best pitcher on the team). The bullpen will sport Joqium Benoit as its closer, finally moving away from waiting for a healthy Joel Zumaya, and the rest of the arms are suspect, but I just think, in the back-and-forth atmosphere of the AL Central, it is Detroit's turn to shine.

I know a lot of people are high on the White Sox, but I am taking the Twins to finish in second. This pick is mostly about the Twins. How can you count them out? I don't know how to read the Justin Morneau concussion thing. It really took him a year, a whole year, to rebound from that? I know we are all suppose to treat concussions like gunshot wounds now, but it seems a little much that Morneau is still talking about “getting there” when it comes to health. This happened 10 freakin months ago. Get over it. Yet, I think Morneau will have a productive year, and I think Joe Mauer will have more of a power year than he did last season. Their offense is multi-dimensional and they play great at Target.

I just don't trust the pitching. Everyone in the rotation is solid. Franciscon Liriano, if he doesn't get traded, is the only one who has the chance to be special, and he is too spotty in the big game to be a legit ace, for my money. After that, it's a bunch of “okay” pitcher. I am banking on okay not being enough this year.

As for the White Sox, I know they have Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko back, people are high on Gordon Beckham having a breakout year, and they won 88 games last season. Why would they be worse? First, I don't believe in Ozzie Guillen. I think he can turn a tough year into a miserable year quicker than anyone. Second, I don't like their pitching. Jake Peavy was suppose to be the difference maker, the ace of the staff. Who knows what you'll get from him now, with all his injuries, but I think his inability to be the “ace” of that staff makes the White Sox an “ehhh” team rather than a “wow” team.

After that, give me the up-and-coming youth of the Royals over the Indians, especially since I think Fausto Carmona, the Indians best pitcher, will be calling someplace new home before the end of July (the Bronx, maybe?).

American League West

A's

Angels

Rangers

Mariners

Division overview — I am a weird dude. I hate moneyball, Billy Beane, and the new trend to disregard actual, tangible stats (like ERA and RBI) for these weird, pseudo stats (WAR, VORP). Yet, I always find myself liking Oakland teams. Same goes for this year. I love the Oakland pitching. Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, even Dallas Braden and his stupid “not on my mound” routine have won me over. Trust me when I say, they had a lot of winning over to do considering that offense (Coco Crisp might be their most explosive player). I just like the way they are going to pitch and play small ball and, personally, I think this is more of an example of how weak the AL West is, rather than how strong Oakland is.

No Rangers in the playoff hunt? I personally was never sold on the Rangers. They, to me, are the same team they were two years ago when they didn't sniff the playoffs. Last year, the stars aligned, they plucked an ace like Cliff Lee away from the Mariners, and guys like Colby Lewis shined for them. They are still going to score runs, but not enough to make up for woeful pitching.

That's why, to me, I will stick the Angels in the second spot, with a chance to win the division.

This is not a great team. I hated the Vernon Wells deal. Tori Hunter is a nice player, not great. Who knows about Kendry Morales, and Howie Kendrick may just be a nice player, rather than the future superstar everyone envisioned. What will keep the Angels in it will be the pitching. Jared Weaver is one of the best in the business, Dan Haren is as underrated a top hurler as there is in the game, and Ervin Santana is reliable. Add in the fact that I think Scott Kazmir is due for a bounceback season, and count me a tempid believer in the Angels. Remember, it was only two years ago this team had a stranglehold on the West division.

Bringing up the rear, the Mariners. The only time you'll hear about the Mariners this year is when people ask whether they will be willing to trade King Felix Hernandez. By the way, if they are even considering trading a young man with that much talent, who has four years left on his contract, they should fold up shop and move the team to Portland, or any other city where an ownership group would support the team.

American League Wild Card Winner – Yankees

I think the Twins will be in the hunt, I think the Blue Jays and the Rays will be in the hunt, but I think the Yankee offense, plus their ability to pick up a pitcher mid-season, will put them over the top.

National League East

Phillies

Braves

Marlins

Mets

Nationals

Division overview — Count me in as one of those people who thinks the Phillie could struggle a little this year. In fact, when I was doing my over/unders for the season, I kept looking to take the Phillies at the under for 97 wins. Then, I would just have this vision of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels all high-fiving each other after every game and thought “nahh.” Will an offense that is anchored by the strike-out happy Ryan Howard and extremely overrated Jimmy Rollins (when was the last time he was an elite player?) be shaky, especially if Chase Utley remains injured? Absolutely. Is a bullpen without Brad Lidge for six weeks to begin the season suspect? Yep. But, the rotation is so good, do potentially dominant, they could have all the before mentioned problems and still be the cream of the division.

I don't like them to win 97 games, but I like them to win the division.

I love the Braves this year. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Braves push the Phillies for all they are worth. Tommy Hanson is set for a breakout year, as is Jason Heyward, who, as a 19-year-old rookie, was considered a disappointment with a .277 average, 18 homers, 72 RBI, and 83 runs scored. That's a career year for some guys. Brian McCann is an underrated top offensive catcher, and Dan Uggla is going to hit the cover off the ball from second. What I don't like is the bullpen, but they will be in the hunt all the way through.

The Marlins? They are young and fun. I love Josh Johnson, Aninal Sanchez, even Ricky Nolasco have talent and strike-out stuff. Hanley Ramirez is one of the best players in the game, and despite some “holes” in his swing, Mike Stanton has superstar written all over him. Could the Marlins jump up and surprise with a wild card birth? Of course. That's the way they do things in Florida. However, I am going to be conservative with them, especially since I love the Braves this year.

As for the Mets and the Nationals, this will be a legit race for fourth place. I hate almost everything about the Mets. They have no pitching, and even when Johan Santana gets back it will be a while before he pitches like Johan Santana. Mike Pelfrey is a third starter in this league, at best, and their offense is a bunch of question marks. The Nationals arn't much better, but at least they have hope for the future. I'll take the Mets to squeeze out enough crappy wins to keep the Nationals in the cellar.

National League Central

Reds

Brewers

Cardinals

Cubs

Pirates

Astros

Division overview - At the beginning of 2010 I felt like the Reds were a year away. I was prepared to pick them for the top spot in the division in 2011, but they jumped the gun. Is the Big Red Machine back for round two? I doubt it, but considering I don't love what anyone else in the division did, and I think the Reds have built one of the best young teams in the league, I see them repeating as NL Central victors.

I think Cinci is actually underrated. Joey Votto is the reining NL MVP, Brandon Phillips is one of the best second basemen in the league, Jay Bruce could be in line for a breakout year in 2011, Scott Rolen found the fountain of youth, and Edgar Renteria is coming off a year where he helped the Giants win a World Series. That's not even counting Drew Stubbs and Johnny Gomes, both of whom put up solid numbers last year and are the exact top-quality role players all good teams need. They also have depth in the pitching staff, with Edison Volquez healthy and ready to go, Johnny Cueto coming off an impressive year, Bronson Arroyo providing valuable veteran leadership, and Homer Bailey still looking to tap into his treasure trove of talents. And, of course, the bullpen will be, at least for a time, solidified by Ardolis Chapman, whose stuff looked every bit as good as advertised. Could he be a starter by the end of the year? Absolutely. Could he be the closer? Certainly. Either way, the Reds have hitting and pitching depth. Usually a good combo for success.

Behind them I am picking the Brewers. I LOVE their pitching. Think of facing this foursome when you walk into Milwaukee in 2011: Zach Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shawn Marcum, and veteran Randy Wolf. That aint bad at all. Consider that the Brewers will throw three pitchers, back to back to back, who were the best on their team a year ago (Greinke in Kansas City, Marcum in Toronto, and Gallardo for the Brewers). I also love Axford as the closer, taking over for retired Trevor Hoffman, who was no where near his dominant former self with the Brewers. The real question is going to be, what does Milwaukee do with Prince Fielder?

The hefty first baseman is going to get a big contract at the end of the year from someone outside of Milwaukee. They know this. Do they just hang onto him, try and win this year, and take take the draft pick at the end of the year, or do they trade him now, get something back in return to lessen the blow of losing their best power hitter? My guess is they keep him the whole year, hoping that an offense of he, Ryan Braun, Cory Hart, and Rickie Weeks is enough to make the playoffs.

I am down on the Cardinals and the Cubs. The Cards are still a scary offense, with The Man Albert Pujols, Matt Holiday, Colby Rasmus, and Yadier Molina, and even though I am not in love with Lance Berkman playing the field, I have a sense he will hit well in St. Louis. But, I have never been in love with Ryan Franklin as a closer and even with Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter both battling for Cy Youngs, the Cards rotation is thin. And I just feel like the Pujols contract situation is going to hang over this entire team, all year.

As far as the Cubs, I just don't trust this team. You can make an argument that the offense is going to have a big year, with an energized Carlos Pena looking to prove his poorous 2010 average was an abberation and Tyler Colvin coming into his own. But I just feel like there are too many guys well on the back end of their careers, like Alfonso Soriano, the oft-injured Aramis Ramirez, and even Marlon Byrd. There are a lot of mid-30's guys with injury trends on this team that will ultimately determine the team's fate.

As far as the pitching staff, I like the addition of Matt Garza but have no idea how long Carlos Zambrano will remain on the team, or how effective he will be. Ryan Dempster is a good pitcher, but not an ace, and the Cubs are going to need an ace-quality guy. Again, on paper the Cubs aren't terrible. If their older players produce at a younger level, if Zambrano, Garza, and Dempster form a top-notch 1-2-3 in the rotation, and if the tandem of Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol shut down the 8th and 9th, maybe the Cubbies surprise some people. I'm betting no.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the Astros and the Pirates. I am picking the Pirates simply because I think their "improvement" has to be measured in moving up from the bottom, rather than challenging for the top. Plus, I love Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, and Pedro Alvarez making up a core of young, talented players the team might build on. But, that pitching is dreadful.

Houston is up for sale, meaning Carlos Lee is out as soon as an American League team determines it needs a DH. I actually like the top of their rotation, as Wandy Rodriguez is a top-quality pitcher, Brett Myers sort of reinvented himself, and J.A. Happ is a young lefty with the potential to pitch at the top of a rotation, in my opinion. Yet, that lineup is essentially Hunter Pence and a bunch of "who is that guy?" and the bullpen is completely unproven.

NL West

Giants

Dodgers

Rockies

Padres

Diamondbacks

Division overview - I am going to say, right off the bat, I don't love this pick. The Giants, to me, were the perfect case of a team getting on a magic carpet ride during a down baseball year. All the big horses were down. Even the Phillies never seemed to have “it” when it came time for the playoffs. The Giants had great pitching and timely hitting, and they won a bunch of one-run games. I have a hard time believing that will happen again.

So, why am I picking them? Here's why:

Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are still on the team, and I love what Madison Bumgarner might bring after a little more big-league seasoning. Not much was done in terms of the offense, but the continued growth of Buster Posey and what has to be a better year from Pablo “Kung-Fu Panda” Sandoval will pay dividends, while I expect that Miguel Tejada will add a good, veteran bat to a team filled with good, but not great, hitters. Since no one in the NL West really improved all that much, I think Sandoval coming back to form could make up for some lost magic by the Bay.

In truth, however, I could see almost anyone winning this division. I like the Dodgers a lot, but I am slotting them in at third place primarily because there is such turmoil in the organization it is hard not to see that trickling down to the field. However, their lineup is solid, with Andre Ethier becoming a star, Matt Kemp looking for a breakout season, and Juan Uribe providing the double-whammy of helping the Dodgers and hurting the Giants. I also think a full year of Rafael Furcal will make a big difference.

I also like what they have done with their rotation, and they are now solid one through five with Clayton Kershaw at the top, Ted Lilly healthy and in the third spot, and Jon Garland adding a veteran presence and innings eater. If Chad Billingsley can find some consistency, they can be very good.

I like the Rockies as well but, for some reason, I feel a let down year coming. Is Ubaldo Jimenez going to be as good again in 2011 as he was in 2010? Is Carlos Gonzalez suddenly a perennial MVP candidate? Does Todd Helton have anything left in the gas tank?

Look, if the Rockies landed themselves a Michael Young to plug in at second or short, this team would be looking really good, but, again, I just don't quite buy them over the long haul. Of course, I say that almost every year, and almost every year the Rockies are sitting there battling for the division.

The team I think really falls off the map is the Padres.

We could get into the team's players, how Orlando Hudson will help at second base, how the team's young pitching might be able to duplicate what it did last year (I highly doubt it), and how Cameron Maybin is still only 23 and capable of being the impact star he was expected to be when he was in the minors. Truthfully, however, when the Padres decided to trade their best player to the Red Sox for non-MLB ready players, they should have sent their region's most famous anchorman out to make the announcement.

“I'm Ron Burgandy. Go F**k Yourself, San Diego.”

As for the Diamondbacks, as a Yankee fan I can tell you the following statement says everything you need to know about the team: the starting left fielder is scheduled to be Xavier Nady, the starting first baseman is slotted to be Juan Miranda, and the number one starter is rumored to be Ian Kennedy. If you're a Yankee fan, you know how bad things are in Arizona.


National League Wild Card Winner - Milwaukee Brewers
Yeah, I know, I am picking two NL Central teams to make the playoffs. Well, I just have this feeling about the Brewers. If they weren't in the same division as the Reds, I would fully expect them to win the Central outright, but since I love the Reds, I have to slot them in for the Wild Card. However, I think this last spot in the playoffs will live up to its reputation. Look for the Dodgers, Rockies, Braves, and Marlins to all be in there for a seat at the playoff table.

The Yankee Braintrust Farts It Up Once Again

I wasn't on board with the Russell Martin signing for the Yankees. I get a team like the Yanks not wanting to hand the starting catcher job over to a rookie right after the bat. I get that, I really do. What I don't get is bringing in a guy whose upside can be described as "ahhh" and whose downside is probably similar to one of the young kids taking on the role.
Martin hasn't been good in two years. Last year, not only was he bad, he was injured. That injury is still a concern. It was a concern when the Yankees signed him. It was a concern coming into spring training, to the point where Martin didn't even play for the first week or so, and it remains a concern today. So, not only is Martin suspect talent wise, he is suspect health wise.
If you were going to opt for the veteran rather than the rookie, wouldn't you have gone for the sure thing catcher? If not, why not either let Posada catch, or give one of the kids a shot?
Okay, you made your move, committed to Russell Martin. Fine. So the Yankees come into spring with the backup catcher spot up for grabs. The candidates? Francisco Cervelli, last year's backup to Posada; Austin Romine, the defensive-minded catcher whose bat is yet to come; and Jesus Montero, the stud offensive prospect whose defense remained a question mark.
Right off the bat, Cervelli got injured, essentially taking him out of the mix. That left Romine and Montero. The opinion was, one of the two was going to win the backup spot. Why was that the opinion? Mainly because Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman all but said that was the case. Would having a top prospect serve as a backup stunt growth? Not at all, Joe Girardi insisted. In fact, it might help that growth. How else are you suppose to learn. Was a possible jump by Romine from AA to the majors a concern? Of course not, the little general insisted. In fact, Girardi had made that very same jump in his career and been fine.
All signs pointed to one of the two kids winning a spot.
Now, at the end of March, it appears a darkhorse has taken the lead for the backup role - Gustavo Molina. Not familiar with Gustavo, the pride of Venezuela? Here is a brief bio: Molina is 29, has played a total of 23 games over 3 seasons in the majors (he didn't play in 2009 for some unknown reason), has a total of five hits and 10 strikeouts. Pretty impressive. Oh, and by the way, Molina is currently hitting .077 this spring. He has had 13 at bats, he has one hit. Say hello to your backup catcher, Yankee fans.
I can't even begin to express what a fucking disaster of a decision this is. Let's start with Molina. He stinks, pure and simple. He can't hit. Actually, it's worse than that. He's an automatic out. Maybe his defense is solid but, honestly, how solid could it be? He has played in 23 games in 3 seasons, and sat out the 2009 season seemingly because no one wanted him. If he were a good defensive catcher, and above-average backstop, wouldn't someone, somewhere, have given him a backup role already? The answer is yes. Taking Molina to New York to backup Martin is sort of like making Lawrence Taylor Charlie Sheen's new life coach. It makes no sense. If you have a catcher with injury problems and the possibility of stinking up the joint, do you really want the backup to be someone you KNOW can't fill in as a starter? Hell, Molina has no business being a backup, let alone a hamstring away from catching in the Bronx five out of seven days. It's actually a joke that the Yankees even have this kid on the roster. It is a testament to how bad Brian Cashman is at life.
Another ridiculous angle to this story is how the Yankees treated this entire thing. They flat out TOLD Montero that he didn't have to worry about hitting, just had to worry about catching, then Girardi made constant comments that Montero was looking better behind the plate. Suddenly, a week ago, both the manager and general manager decided to denegrate Montero's catching (it didn't seem much had changed) and made a big deal out of the fact that the young man wasn't hitting (remember, they told everyone they didn't give a shit if he hit AT ALL in the spring). Okay, so you have an official mindfuck going on with your best prospect. Yet, the Yankees weren't content with that. Next up on the chopping block - Austin Romine. Romine has hit a little bit, played very good defense. When it became clear that the powers that be had soured on Montero, Romine seemed to move to the front of the class. That feeling was solidified even more when Girardi made it a point to say that a jump by Romine to the majors from AA wasn't any big shakes. Yet, somehow, Romine, like Montero, has somehow lost his chance to make the club because an average (at best) catcher, with NO bat, who has played in 23 games in the majors, is on the squad. What a fucking joke.
So, now you have successfully shit on your two best catching prospects. You told Montero he didn't need to hit, then killed him for not hitting. You kept making a big deal about how well he was playing behind the plate, then said he wasn't really all that good back there, to be honest. For Romine, you made a big deal out of his defense and said his AA experience wasn't a big deal, then said he need more time in the minors before making this kind of jump. Now, Montero goes back to AAA, a league he DOMINATED in the second half of last year, and Romine goes back to AA, seemingly a MILE away from the bigs. And why? Not because another catcher outplayed them. Because your douchebag manager and asswipe general manager somehow decided that 23 putrid games in the majors counts for something more than proof that someone doesn't belong. How much you want to bet both get off to shitty starts down in the minors this year?
Again, I don't mind the Yankees not handing a spot to Montero or Romine. However, if you're going to send them down to the minors, make that decision right away. If not, then give them a chance to win the spot. Yeah, neither Romine or Montero hit much at all. Here's the thing........Molina is FUCKING WORSE!!!!!! In reality, BOTH Romine and Montero outhit that shit kind Molina, even with their .220 averages.
My major problem? What the fuck is the upside to having Molina on the team? There is none. It's not a zero, it's a -10. He will almost definitely be a detriment to the team. He will do nothing to help. What is the upside? He doesn't fucking kill someone on the field. Simple as that.
The downside to Montero or Romine? Can it be worse than Molina? Nope. The upside? HUGE! Either Montero or Romine could simply take off. Either one could tap into the talent that has had them ranked as two of baseball's best prospects. Montero could be an impact bat, even at 20 years old. Romine could be a top defender and a good bat.
There is a lot to hate about Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman. If I were a player, what I would hate the most is that both are, simply put, liars. They set the bar, then move it. Remember a few years ago, when Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner were fighting for the center field spot? Girardi announced that Gardner would be the starter. Within a few weeks, he was out and Melky was in. Girardi's word that Gardner would be the starter, even if he struggled, was good for about 2 minutes. That's the type of franchise Cashman and his little toady Girardi runs. This year, they tell Montero to focus on defense and forget about hitting. He does. Then, you decide hitting matters.....A LOT! Girardi states that Montero's development wouldn't be stunted if he made the major league squad. Then, he says he wants Montero to play everyday in the minors so they don't "stunt his growth." Girardi says defense is top priority for a backup. He then points to an inferior defensive player in Molina to play over Romine.
Here's the rule: if Joe Girardi's mouth is moving, he isn't being truthful. He's a fucking liar.
I can't tell you how much I despise Joe Girardi. The backup catcher fiasco is the first of what, I have no doubt, will be a series of shitty decisions by the manager and the general manager that will result in an bad year in the Bronx.

A Melo State Of Mind?

There are a few different things at work when it comes to this Carmelo Anthony situation. First, I think we can all agree that Anthony is kind of a bitch in this silly passion play. He is pushing to go to a team that has been a doormat for a decade and leave a team that, despite not going to an NBA Final since he arrived, has been a competitive team that has shown the ability to build a quality squad around their star player. Even though the Knicks are in a significantly better situation now than they were a few years ago, and you could make the case that New York, over the next year or two is in a better shape to win than Denver, it still doesn't discount a few obvious facts: Denver has a better coach in George Karl who actually values defense, rather than Mike D'Antoni and his "just score" mentality; the East, with the Big Three in Miami, a rising team in Chicago, an always talented yet head-scratchingly erratic Orlando, and the ever-present Boston might offer a tougher road to the finals over the next three years than the West, with an aging Lakers and Spurs, and no GREAT team waiting in the wings; and, though the Nuggets front office is new and hasn't established any kind of resume, the Knicks appear ready to usher in the Isiah Thomas 2.0 era, and how could that be anything other than shitty?

Carmelo wants the Knicks because they are in New York. Pure and simple.

The second thing at play here is Denver. It seems to me like they may end up trading Carmelo for more than anyone originally thought (to the Knicks, that is) yet, are they burning bridges in the process? Everyday we hear they have a "deal in place" with someone, then it seems they move the goalposts a little further down the field. They also seem to be using the Nets to get more from the Knicks, something I can't imagine is making the Nets all that happy.

Look, if the Nuggets have a bonafide, frachise-changing piece ala Carmelo, teams will deal with them. Teams will deal with anyone when that is the case. You think anybody WANTS to spend time with Scott Boras when it comes to baseball negotiations? Of course not. But, when he represents the best of the best, you have to talk. Where I think all this back-and-forth could hurt the Nuggets is when they are trying to move smaller pieces to improve their club. Will other teams be reluctant, seeing how they treated both the Knicks and the Nets, and seemed hell-bent on not just getting a good deal, but using any means necessary just to pick up a few more assets? If they need to shed some salary, will other teams shy away from deals? Who knows, but Denver certainly seems to be willing to jerk a lot of people around, all in the name of adding fairly insignificant pieces. It almost seems as if the Nuggets are looking to hurt the other team in the deal as much, or more, than help their team.

The final thing at play here is how, if the Knicks pull this deal off, they might be in a position to build a "super team" in the East to join Miami. It isn't hard to imagine the Knicks could clear enough space to sign Chris Paul after the 2012 season, if they have a 2012 season. That would give them an even more balanced all-star team than Miami. That will certainly be good for New York, and a good team in New York will certainly be good for the league, but is that healthy for the league?

People can complain about baseball all they want, screaming about the lack of a salary cap and the haves and have nots of the sport. Yet, baseball is a game played by nine individuals. You can add whatever piece, even two pieces that you want and if you don't have good talent at all spots on the team, you're not winning, pure and simple. In basketball, one or two players can DOMINATE, and it usually means a monopoly on winning. 

Look at these numbers: In the last 20 years, 13 different teams have won the World Series. In the NBA, six different teams have won a championship. More than twice the amount of teams have won a championship in baseball than in basketball. Also, consider this: in the NBA, you had teams win two or more straight championships five times while, in Major League Baseball, only the Blue Jays and Yankees won multiple championships in consecutive years.

The point? In basketball, dominant teams DOMINATE. Over a period of years, a team that builds a top contender usually wins multiple times in a row. The Bulls under Jordan won six titles in nine years. The Rockets, with Hakeem, won back-to-back. The Lakers won three straight with Kobe and Shaq, then just won two straight with Kobe and Gasol. That doesn't even take into account the fact that San Antonio, with Dave Robinson and Tim Duncan, than the Duncan, Parker, Ginolbli combo, has won three championships in that time, just never back-to-back. 

If the Knicks get a Chris Paul to go along with Melo and Amar'e, is there any doubt the East will be dominated by two or three teams for the next decade or more? Say goodnight if you're the 76ers, Bobcats, Pacers, or anyone else. You won't sniff an Eastern Conference Final.

But, in the end, this comes down to a trade. Would you, if you're the Knicks, make the trade that has been proposed: Raymond Felton, Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry (expiring contract), and a first-round pick) acquired from Minnesota for Anthony Randolph) for Melo, Chauncey Billups, and a few throw-ins to make the math work.

My answer: absolutely. Even if the Knicks have to include Timothy Mozgov, I would run for that deal. Yeah, it's a lot, but the way I look at a trade, I have to ask "who is leaving, who is coming, and who is irreplaceable?" By that account, the Knicks get back the only irreplaceable player in the entire deal: Carmelo. If the deal includes Gallinari (there is some talk that the Knicks would be willing to include Mozgov but would then replace Gallinari with Fields), Melo replaces Gallinari. Big win for the Knicks. Billups is older and his best years are behind him, but he is still a valuable player and you would have to consider a Felton, Billups swap a push, especially considering Felton probably wasn't a long-term solution at point guard anyway. The Knicks won't get anything back to replace Chandler, a valuable sixth man, but is he an irreplaceable talent? No way. And, since the Knicks don't have a first-round pick next year, anyway, there would be nothing gained, nothing lost in giving one up if acquired for Randolph. Even if the Knicks replaced Gallo with Fields and included Mozgov, again, there would be nothing in that deal that wouldn't be replaceable either through the draft or free agency.

Just think about it. Here are the two potential starting fives for the Knicks if they pull off one of these two deals:

Billups PG

Fields SG

Melo SF

Amar'e PF

Mozgov C

or

Billups PG

Gallo SG

Melo SF

Amar'e PF

Touriaf C

Now, I don't think either of those two teams beats the Celtics or the Bulls, but either one is better than the Felton, Fields, Gallo, Amar'e, Mozgov starting five right now. The two biggest problems for this year, in which the Knicks will probably go to the playoffs, is that a.) the new guys won't be familiar with the D'Antoni system and b.) there won't be much of a bench. But, again, the Knicks weren't winning a championship this year, anyway. Why not put Melo with Amar'e and start building around that now? 

Personally, I like the second grouping, even though Fields has become a fan favorite very quickly and Movgoz has shown much more talent as of late. Teaming Melo with Gallo and Amar'e could keep the Knicks dangerous for this year. Their second unit would be pretty aweful, but their first unit could be a lot of fun to watch.

In the end, the Knicks just don't have a lot of GREAT things on their roster, so even though they would be giving up a lot, nothing is so precious as to stop a deal. This is more about quantity than quality. There is no potential superstar leaving New York in those proposed deals, and what the NBA is all about is superstars. It is much easier to add good players to a core group of great talents than to add great talent to a core group of good players. In baseball, where any one player is simply one of nine, and history shows that, usually, different teams win every year, trading half your roster for one top player isn't smart. In basketball, where one or two players can mean so much (see Cleveland minus LeBron James), gutting the roster for a premier talent is the right way to go.

Update: It appears the Knicks have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to their deal for Carmelo. I get the point. You don't want to continue to be held over the coals. But, as I stated in the post, there isn't one player on the Knicks roster not names Amar'e that is worthy of holding up, or ultimately squashing, a deal for Melo. Even if you deplete much of your team, you don't really set yourself back all that much. There isn't anything there you can't replace. There isn't anything there you can't find in the draft or free agency. If you blow up the roster for Carmelo, so be it. Here is my prediction. If the Knicks added Timothy Mozgov to this trade, and gave up Felton, Gallo, Chandler, and Mozgov, while also trading Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry, they would be BETTER than the Nuggets in a year and would be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in the next two years. Not getting Carmelo is more of a hit than giving up all this. I get the sense this "line in the sand" is almost more about pride than it is about basketball because, really, unless the Nuggets mentioned Amar'e there isn't anyone on the roster the Nuggets could ask for where you wouldn't say "yeah, sure, why not?"

NL Central Preview

Let me say something about the NL Central. If MLB is going to realign, the Central has to be the pivot point. Why? For some reason, the NL Central has six teams whereas every other division in baseball, except the AL West, had five teams. There are only four teams in the AL West.
I'm sure there is a reason for this but, honestly, I don't get it. Why the hell is there one division with six teams and another with four?
Since I LOVE to move teams around, here would be my solution, which probably has nothing to do with a fairly complicated realignment proposal I made last year. Here's what I would do to even things up. It's very simple:
Move the Houston Astros to the NL West, move the Arizona Diamondbacks to the AL West.
A move to the NL West would be fine for the Astros and it would give the West divisions in each sport a team in Texas. The Diamondbacks are still relatively new in baseball so moving them isn't as dramatic as moving a team that has deeper roots in the National League. Plus, you're taking two teams that have been stuck in a rut for a while, a move would be good for both of them. And, you wouldn't have any more weird divisions, which just annoys me on a practical level. Pisses me off, actually.
Yet, until Bud Selig wakes up to my suggestions (for which I hope to be handsomely paid), the NL Central remains as is.
Without further ado, here's how I see the division breaking down:
NL Central
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Cubs
Pittsburgh Pirates
Houston Astros

At the beginning of 2010 I felt like the Reds were a year away. I was prepared to pick them for the top spot in the division in 2011, but they jumped the gun. Is the Big Red Machine back for round two? I doubt it, but considering I don't love what anyone else in the division did, and I think the Reds have built one of the best young teams in the league, I see them repeating as NL Central victors.
I think Cinci is actually underrated. Joey Votto is the reining NL MVP, Brandon Phillips is one of the best second basemen in the league, Jay Bruce could be in line for a breakout year in 2011, Scott Rolen found the fountain of youth, and Edgar Renteria is coming off a year where he helped the Giants win a World Series. That's not even counting Drew Stubbs and Johnny Gomes, both of whom put up solid numbers last year and are the exact top-quality role players all good teams need. They also have depth in the pitching staff, with Edison Volquez healthy and ready to go, Johnny Cueto coming off an impressive year, Bronson Arroyo providing valuable veteran leadership, and Homer Bailey still looking to tap into his treasure trove of talents. And, of course, the bullpen will be, at least for a time, solidified by Ardolis Chapman, whose stuff looked every bit as good as advertised. Could he be a starter by the end of the year? Absolutely. Could he be the closer? Certainly. Either way, the Reds have hitting and pitching depth. Usually a good combo for success.
Behind them I am picking the Brewers. I LOVE their pitching. Think of facing this foursome when you walk into Milwaukee in 2011: Zach Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shawn Marcum, and veteran Randy Wolf. That aint bad at all. Consider that the Brewers will throw three pitchers, back to back to back, who were the best on their team a year ago (Greinke in Kansas City, Marcum in Toronto, and Gallardo for the Brewers). I also love Axford as the closer, taking over for retired Trevor Hoffman, who was no where near his dominant former self with the Brewers. The real question is going to be, what does Milwaukee do with Prince Fielder?
The hefty first baseman is going to get a big contract at the end of the year from someone outside of Milwaukee. They know this. Do they just hang onto him, try and win this year, and take take the draft pick at the end of the year, or do they trade him now, get something back in return to lessen the blow of losing their best power hitter? My guess is they keep him the whole year, hoping that an offense of he, Ryan Braun, Cory Hart, and Rickie Weeks is enough to make the playoffs.
I am down on the Cardinals and the Cubs. The Cards are still a scary offense, with The Man Albert Pujols, Matt Holiday, Colby Rasmus, and Yadier Molina, and even though I am not in love with Lance Berkman playing the field, I have a sense he will hit well in St. Louis. But, I have never been in love with Ryan Franklin as a closer and even with Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter both battling for Cy Youngs, the Cards rotation is thin. And I just feel like the Pujols contract situation is going to hang over this entire team, all year.
As far as the Cubs, I just don't trust this team. You can make an argument that the offense is going to have a big year, with an energized Carlos Pena looking to prove his poorous 2010 average was an abberation and Tyler Colvin coming into his own. But I just feel like there are too many guys well on the back end of their careers, like Alfonso Soriano, the oft-injured Aramis Ramirez, and even Marlon Byrd. There are a lot of mid-30's guys with injury trends on this team that will ultimately determine the team's fate.
As far as the pitching staff, I like the addition of Matt Garza but have no idea how long Carlos Zambrano will remain on the team, or how effective he will be. Ryan Dempster is a good pitcher, but not an ace, and the Cubs are going to need an ace-quality guy. Again, on paper the Cubs aren't terrible. If their older players produce at a younger level, if Zambrano, Garza, and Dempster form a top-notch 1-2-3 in the rotation, and if the tandem of Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol shut down the 8th and 9th, maybe the Cubbies surprise some people. I'm betting no.
I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the Astros and the Pirates. I am picking the Pirates simply because I think their "improvement" has to be measured in moving up from the bottom, rather than challenging for the top. Plus, I love Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, and Pedro Alvarez making up a core of young, talented players the team might build on. But, that pitching is dreadful.
Houston is up for sale, meaning Carlos Lee is out as soon as an American League team determines it needs a DH. I actually like the top of their rotation, as Wandy Rodriguez is a top-quality pitcher, Brett Myers sort of reinvented himself, and J.A. Happ is a young lefty with the potential to pitch at the top of a rotation, in my opinion. Yet, that lineup is essentially Hunter Pence and a bunch of "who is that guy?" and the bullpen is completely unproven.

Best Player in the NL Central: Albert Pujols
Best Pitcher in the NL Central: Zach Greinke
Breakout Player in the NL Central: Ardolis Chapman
Comeback Player in the NL Central: Carlos Pena

Let's Begin Those Pesky Predictions With....the NL West

I can't wait. There's too much freakin snow on the ground. It's too damn cold. I'm too damn depressed that I'm so damn excited it's going to be 40 degrees this weekend. Forty-freakin-degrees and I feel like throwing on some shorts and going for a jog.

I would say that only those in the northern parts of the country know what I am talking about, but I am pretty sure winter decided to ruin the lives of every single American citizen this year. From Dallas to Bangor, Maine, you know what snow, sleet, ice, and freezing rain look and feel like. For most of us, the world still looks like an igloo.

So, while a season preview of baseball seems almost ludicrous on February 11, a few days from when pitchers and catchers are required to report, more than a month from the beginning of the baseball season, and probably two months from when the weather will actually be good, I don't....freakin.....care.

This isn't for you, it's for me. I need this. I am cold, from my gonads to my hair follicles, and I would all but guarantee that winter hasn't finished with us just yet. The 14 inches of ice on my lawn (down from 24 inches just a week or so ago) will have some additional covering before it is all said and done, and I won't see grass or dirt until sometime in June.

So, where to start? Usually, I decide to begin with the AL East because those are the teams I know the best. The Yankees are my team so the rosters of the Sox, Rays, Jays, and O's are pretty well known to me. But, this time around, I am going to start with someplace warm. I bet today, the weather is nice in San Diego, and I want to dream about gorgeous women in tight outfits getting a tan right now. That seems pleasant to me.

So, let's begin with the NL West. Lasy year, I predicted a Colorado Rockies victory. I also made the statement that the only team I couldn't see winning the division was the San Diego Padres. For the record, I picked the San Francisco Giants to finish third.

The point?

My predictions are, for the most part, as valuable as those made by the experts.

NL West

San Francisco Giants

LA Dodgers

Colorado Rockies

San Diego Padres

Arizona Diamondbacks

I am going to say, right off the bat, I don't love this pick. The Giants, to me, were the perfect case of a team getting on a magic carpet ride during a down baseball year. All the big horses were down. Even the Phillies never seemed to have “it” when it came time for the playoffs. The Giants had great pitching and timely hitting, and they won a bunch of one-run games. I have a hard time believing that will happen again.

So, why am I picking them? Here's why:

Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are still on the team, and I love what Madison Bumgarner might bring after a little more big-league seasoning. Not much was done in terms of the offense, but the continued growth of Buster Posey and what has to be a better year from Pablo “Kung-Fu Panda” Sandoval will pay dividends, while I expect that Miguel Tejada will add a good, veteran bat to a team filled with good, but not great, hitters. Since no one in the NL West really improved all that much, I think Sandoval coming back to form could make up for some lost magic by the Bay.

In truth, however, I could see almost anyone winning this division. I like the Dodgers a lot, but I am slotting them in at third place primarily because there is such turmoil in the organization it is hard not to see that trickling down to the field. However, their lineup is solid, with Andre Ethier becoming a star, Matt Kemp looking for a breakout season, and Juan Uribe providing the double-whammy of helping the Dodgers and hurting the Giants. I also think a full year of Rafael Furcal will make a big difference.

I also like what they have done with their rotation, and they are now solid one through five with Clayton Kershaw at the top, Ted Lilly healthy and in the third spot, and Jon Garland adding a veteran presence and innings eater. If Chad Billingsley can find some consistency, they can be very good.

I like the Rockies as well but, for some reason, I feel a let down year coming. Is Ubaldo Jimenez going to be as good again in 2011 as he was in 2010? Is Carlos Gonzalez suddenly a perennial MVP candidate? Does Todd Helton have anything left in the gas tank?

Look, if the Rockies landed themselves a Michael Young to plug in at second or short, this team would be looking really good, but, again, I just don't quite buy them over the long haul. Of course, I say that almost every year, and almost every year the Rockies are sitting there battling for the division.

The team I think really falls off the map is the Padres.

We could get into the team's players, how Orlando Hudson will help at second base, how the team's young pitching might be able to duplicate what it did last year (I highly doubt it), and how Cameron Maybin is still only 23 and capable of being the impact star he was expected to be when he was in the minors. Truthfully, however, when the Padres decided to trade their best player to the Red Sox for non-MLB ready players, they should have sent their region's most famous anchorman out to make the announcement.

“I'm Ron Burgandy. Go F**k Yourself, San Diego.”

As for the Diamondbacks, as a Yankee fan I can tell you the following statement says everything you need to know about the team: the starting left fielder is scheduled to be Xavier Nady, the starting first baseman is slotted to be Juan Miranda, and the number one starter is rumored to be Ian Kennedy. If you're a Yankee fan, you know how bad things are in Arizona.

Best Player in the NL West: Justin Upton

Best Pitcher in the NL West: Matt Cain

Breakout Player in the NL West: Madison Bumgarner

Comeback Player in the NL West: Pablo Sandoval

Is Liriano The Solution?

So, you might have heard that the Yankees are a little thin when it comes to the starting rotation? Well, only if you think the upcoming spring training battle royale for the fourth and fifth starter spots between Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, the re-animated corpse of Mark Prior, Sergio Mitre, and any slightly inebriated bleacher creature who happens to show up early for a game in Tampa, won't result in World Series-caliber hurling. Ah, only a few days until pitchers and catchers. Catch the fever.

For two months, ever since Cliff Lee gave a big ol'Philidelphia-style middle finger to the Bronx, Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman has preached patience. There wasn't anything of great value out there to be had so sit back, relax, and see if anything crazy happened, like Felix Hernandez demanding to be traded only to the Yankees for Ramiro Pena and Francisco Cervelli.

But, nothing crazy did happen. No front-line starters materialized out of thin air and landed in Cashman's lap. As he collected scrap heap arms, like Garcia and Colon, the last best hope for a solid top-to-bottom rotation disappeared when Andy Pettitte decided the comforts of Houston were too much of a Siren song to ignore, and retired.

Cashman and the Yankees have said all the right things, but everyone involved has admitted that the rotation is weak. The problem isn't just with the backend. The problem is that, after CC Sabathia, there are a lot of “I don't knows” in the pitching staff.

Is Phil Hughes the 1.68 ERA fireballer he appeared to be out of the gate last season, or the over-5 ERA guy he was to the middle-end of the year? I don't know.

Can AJ Burnett ever harness his talent for even one season and put together a consistently brilliant campaign? Can he at least return to his heady 13-9, 4.07 ERA 2009 season form, or will he continue to sink under the weight of his own consistency? I don't know.

Will the Yankees ever allow one of their prized pitching prospects — Manny Banuleos, Andrew Brackman, and Dellin Betances — to take a stab at the rotation or will they keep them in the minors at all costs? Again, no clue.

When four-fifths of your rotation elicites a shoulder shrug anytime someone asks for a performance prediction, October seems like a long way off.

Sure, the lineup should be fine, with bounceback seasons possible for A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Curtis Granderson, and the addition of Rafeal Soriano to an already formidable bullpen should shorten a lot of these games, but a team's success and failure usually rests on the arms of its starters, and that's where the least amount of certainty lies.

Enter the Minnesota Twins.

See, it was reported this week by the Minnesota Times-Tribune that the Twins are more than willing to part ways with lefty starter Francisco Liriano. The 26-year old starter will be a free agent after the 2012 season and, coming off a year when he posted 191 innings, 201 strikeouts, and a 3.62 ERA, the Twins, according to the article, feel like now would be the best time to deal their star pitcher.

The question is, would the Yankees jump into the fray?

Here are the positives:

*Liriano is a lefty with strikeout stuff, which has become even more valuable considering all the lefties Boston has asquired the last year.

*Liriano is still young, only 27-years old.

*Liriano pitched well against both the Yankees and Red Sox last year, though he was bombed in two starts at Fenway Park.

*Liriano still appears to be learning and, at 27, his best years may well be in front of him.

Here are the negatives:

*Liriano is still an injury risk, having suffered from arm problems in the minors, then requiring Tommy John Surgery after the 2007 season, forcing him to miss the entire 2008 campaign.

*Liriano has not been impressive in his postseason appearances.

*Liriano is looking for a multi-year extension, with the rumor being that he asked the Twins for a three year, $39 million contract ($13 million per year).

*The Twins believe Liriano is at the height of his value, so they would probably demand a lot in return.

That last “negative” is, to me, the most interesting. I'm not that concerned about Liriano's injury concerns. Several pitchers have had Tommy John Surgery, many early in their careers, and they haven't missed a beat. Liriano seemed to follow the progress of most pitchers off Tommy John: struggle through the first year back, excell in that second year. Plus, the Twins claim to be concerned about Liriano's health, yet just re-upped with Carl Pavano, who should have a shrine erected to him in the Injured Players Hall of Fame.

I'm also not that concerned about any extension for Liriano. First, he will only make $4.3 million this year and probably not a tremendous amount more than that in 2012. After that, he can become a free agent. If the Yanks bring him in and the lefty pitches well, they will be happy to pay him. If he pitches poorly, they can let him walk. If he pitches only so-so, then the Yanks could decide to bring him back, but have much more room to maneuveur away from a three year contract worth $13 million per.

No, to me the major question is not finances or injury concerns, it's prospect cost. What would the Twins want?

The strange thing is, the Twins are one of the more unique cases in all of baseball, as they don't need what the Yankees have in abundance. Almost every team with a player to trade will run to the Yankees because they have three top-quality catching prospects, a truly rare commodity in baseball. Jesus Montero is thought to be the top hitting prospect in the entire minor leagues, Austin Romine has been touted as a pure combination of hitting ability and defensive acumen, and some believe that Gary Sanchez, who hasn't played above A ball yet, might be the best of all of them.

Yet, the Twins have themselves the top catcher in major league baseball: Joe Mauer. He's young, durable, and getting a lot of money over a lot of years. If there is one team that doesn't need a catcher, it's Mauer.

That might not matter in the case of Montero. Many believe he is destined for another position, anyway. His size and somewhat shaky defensive skills have had many wondering whether anything from firstbase to DH is in his future.

Maybe the Twins take Montero, move him to DH or the outfield, and hope his bat translates the way so many believe. The question is, would the Yankees be willing, or be wise, to give up Montero?

I have a hard time believing that, as good as Liriano is, he is worth Montero. I wasn't willing to give up on Montero for Cliff Lee, let alone Liriano. With the question marks that surround him, I would be willing to give up a couple of A- guys, not A+ guys.

How about Andrew Brackman, Joba Chamberlain, and Eduardo Nunez? Brackman is a top pitching prospect, Chamberlain has a load of talent and could be a closer or a starter, and Nunez appears to be a solid option at short stop, a spot that is somewhat weak on the Twins right now. Would that do the job?

Considering that Liriano is not a sure thing, I think that is a somewhat fair deal. Chamberlain and Nunez are major league-ready right now. Brackman is another strong-armed lefty who could be up and ready to pitch at the major-league level by the end of the year.

The question is, what kind of premium would the Twins put on selling to the Yankees because, you know, they are the Yankees?

Even if the Yanks had the best offer on the table, would the Twins bite? Would they want to help strengthen a team they could conceivably face in the playoffs, a team that has handled them with ease in the past?

It might be that the Twins would demand Montero as a part of the deal to even consider the trade. The thinking might be that, if the Twins got a bat as potent as Montero then trading a potential top-of-the-rotation guy to a league rival would be palatable. Without that overpay, the Twins might be inclined to take a lesser deal from a less formidable foe, or ship him off to an NL team looking to improve their rotation (the Mets would be a prime candidate, except for the fact that they have nothing to give in a trade).

I think the Yankees would and should jump all over Liriano, if he becomes available. How much better does a rotation of Sabathia, Liriano, Hughes, Burnett, and Nova look? It takes pressure off everyone: Sabathia doesn't have to be perfect, Hughes doesn't have to be a top performer, Nova can progress naturally in the last spot in the rotation, and if Burnett comes back to form, wonderful, if not, it doesn't devastate your rotation. Also, that has a lot of potential for the future. Sabathia is 30, Liriano 27, Hughes 24, Nova 24. If Liriano stays healthy, Hughes and Nova progress, and the Yankees hit on one of their top pitching prospects, Burnett can essentially become an afterthought. In two years, you could have a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, Liriano, Nova, and Manny Banuleos. Would you sign up for three hard throwing lefties in your rotation right now, with three of your pitchers being homegrown? I would.

I don't know how realistic this whole thing is. The Twins may decide to hang on to Liriano through the season and explore a trade next year. They may may deal him at the trade deadline, and they may decide that, under no circumstances is Liriano finding himself onto the dreaded Yankee roster.

They may also decide to ship Liriano as a part of a deal that lands them Michael Young, the star infielder for the Rangers who wants nothing to do with DH'ing and has asked for a trade. The Rangers, like the Yankees, are looking for a top starter after losing out on Lee and while Liriano doesn't provide the guarantee Lee did, he is a very nice second option. With Young in the lineup, joining Denard Span, Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Michael Cuddyer, the Twins would suddenly have a formidable lineup to go along with an always solid rotation. It might be their best choice.

Yet, despite any challenges, Liriano's availability is the first piece of interesting news to arrive at the Yankee doorstep. There would be a reason to get excited in the Bronx. There would be a reason to imagine the Yankees going toe-to-toe with the much improved Red Sox.

Real GM's don't have to wait for sure things to fall into their laps. They make their money not by simply throwing the owner's money around, but by finding a way to pry pitchers like Liriano away from their clubs without burning down the minor leagues.

The most notably thing Cashman has done this entire offseason is dress like an elf and scale down the side of a large building. Perhaps, if he pulls off a Liriano deal, he can retain what is left of his dignity and his credibility.

Goodbye Andy Pettitte!!!

There has never been a player in my lifetime that proved the “know what you have until it's gone” mantra better than Andy Pettitte. See, for years, I was a lot like former owner George Steinbrenner, who never seemed all that enraptured by Pettitte. He was good, of course, but he wasn't “great,” and New York is about “great.” Pettitte was always somewhat of an afterthought. There was David Cone and David Wells pitching perfect games and coming up big in big games. There was the arrival of Roger Clemens, argueably one of the top five pitchers in the history of the game (until the whole steroids era was flushed out). There was El Duque, Orlando Hernandez, with his quirky delivery, his slow-motion breaking ball, and his ability to fool the best hitters in the biggest games.

Through it all was Andy, in the background, taking the mound every fifth day, getting hitters out.

Andy didn't strike a lot of guys out. He didn't pitch two-hitters. He didn't finish the season with eye-popping results. He just won.

Unfortunately, on a team that “just won,” his consistency seemed boring. There was no flash there, no pomp and circumstance that surrounded his game. He was just there, doing his job, and doing it at a very good clip.

Of course there was the Game 5 in the 1996 World Series, the duel with John Smoltz where Pettitte blanked the Braves to send the Yankees home with an improbable three games to two lead in a series where they had dropped the first two contests at home. It was his signature moment. In fact, it remains his signature moment. But, it wasn't enough to outshine all the stars and personalities that surrounded him.

After the 2003 season, the Yankees let Pettitte go. The details are sketchy. The Yankees and Brian Cashman insist that Andy wanted to return home to Houston and play closer to his family. Pettitte has made it clear he never felt wanted by the Yankees and didn't return because no offer was ever made. The Yankees state they made an offer. Who knows the truth. All we do know is that the Yankees, and George Steinbrenner, had the same view of Pettitte as I did: good but not good enough to break the bank over. If he left, no big deal.

Now, I didn't want Pettitte to go. I didn't understand why the Yankees weren't willing to offer one of their own a contract. But, if I am being honest, I wasn't devastated. This wasn't Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera. This wasn't an iconic Yankee. This wasn't someone who was irreplaceable. I would have liked to have had Pettitte back, but life goes on.

Besides, the Yankees, before the 2004 season, made a bunch of splashy moves that had all Yankee fans, like me, admiring the shiny new toys in the Steinbrenner collection.

There was Kevin Brown, the veteran righty who broke bats with his devastating sinker. There was Javier Vazquez, one of the bright young pitching stars in the game, who had wallowed in obscurity in Montreal long enough. Then, of course, there was Alex Rodriguez, the $260 million man, considered the best player in the game at that time, who was coming over to play third base for the Bombers because no one was moving Jeter from his perch at short stop.

Pettitte was gone but, let's face it, who was gonna miss him?

If you're a Yankee fan, or (gulp) a Red Sox fan, you know what happened in 2004. The Yankees murdered the Red Sox in three straight games in the ALCS. Then, performed one of the most infamous choke jobs in the history of the sport, losing four straight, including a disasterous game 7 where the new and shiny Yankee toys, Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez, and Alex Rodriguez, all helped in the collossal failure.

It was one of the most heartbreaking loses and Yankee history, one to this day I have a hard time believing happened, but it did, and when the final out was recorded, and the Sox celebrated their ALCS victory on the mound at Yankee Stadium, the first thing I thought was “this wouldn't have happened if Andy Pettitte were here.”

He returned in 2007 and played in Pinstripes four more years, winning another World Series, and never, not once, having to deal with a fanbase ungrateful for his efforts. We had seen life without Andy Pettitte. We had seen what a series, what a season, could look like without someone with grit, guts, a will to win, and an ability to just go out there and “get the job done.” What had seemed boring in his first go-around with the Yankees was suddenly an exilar for all that ailed a group that looked more like a fantasy team than a championship squad.

Between 1996 and 2003 I must have seen Pettitte pitch 20 times. It was just the way the schedule would work out. When my buddies and I would pick a game to attend, driving down from Connecticut for the day, it always seemed to fall on the day Pettitte was scheduled to take the mound. It became a running joke for our group.

“Who's pitching?” one would ask.

“I don't know, but good money is on Pettitte,” the other would respond.

“God, anyone but Pettitte.”

That's the way we felt.

Now, in 2011, I treasure having seen him as much as I did and wish, fervently, I had a few more opportunities before now.

Pettitte is officially retired. He is leaving the game the way most great players should, on his own terms and still in demand. At 38, the Yankees wanted him back. More than that, they needed him back. But Pettitte felt the pull of family more keenly now than he ever did before, and he decided to call it quits. Good for him.

Conversation has already begun about the Yankees' shaky rotation going into 2011 and columnists have already bantered around about Pettitte's Hall of Fame credentials. Those debates should be saved for another day. What this does to the Yankees now, and what chances Pettitte has of going to Cooperstown in five years, has no bearing on the days events.

Today, Yankee fans everywhere should simply say “thank you.” Pettitte conducted his life, and his career, with class. Even his poor decision to use steroids to help heal from an injury was handled with dignity and honesty, and true remorse, even though Pettitte was never accused of using the drug to enhance his own performance or change his body, the way so many of his contemporaries had done.

Pettitte was a big-game pitcher in a city that demands big-time performances. He was a top-flight pitcher and person.

For a Louisiana boy who called Texas home, Pettitte will forever be viewed as a New Yorker. He won over a city that is used to bright lights and big personalities with quiet consistency and grace. And he won, period.

So, from a very grateful Yankee fan, who never realized how important Pettitte was until he was gone, I say “thank you” and good luck in your retirement.