Inge for the Gold Glove?
First off, apologies for the blogging absence - for those of you who actually visit my page semi-regularly or just happen to stumble across it - things have been a little busy lately.
However, I'm back, albeit probably for a short time, what with uni exams coming up pronto. Anyway, in the meantime, I've been packing in tons of baseball, from watching the Tigers sweep the Rangers, to Reed Johnson robbing Prince Fielder on sunday night baseball. And what to make of the new young season? A couple things:
- Brandon Inge should win a gold glove at third. If not then I want a detailed response as to why not. Seriously. How many more times is he gonna sparkle defensively at the hot corner and not get recognised? The guy probably has the best arm I've seen at third for a long time, and his range is just incredible. He's already got more appearances on webgems - and mostly as the top defensive play of the night - than anyone else I can think of, and what's next?
- The Florida Marlins are for real. I thought they'd be good coming into the season. And if you ask me they've got arguably the best rotation in baseball. Not to mention a powerful young lineup.
- Albert Pujols is still the game's greatest hitter.
- I don't like Citi field. Seriously. It just has too many awkward forced quirks. For starters, why the hell is the left field wall about 20 feet high? Second, what is the mess that is the right field wall? I mean, what's the bit that juts inwards to the right of the bullpen and then comes out again? Ugly as hell. And also, was there any need for an overhang in the right field seats? There's some obstructed views right there. And as for the out of town scoreboard being up under the roof in left centre - again, what's that all about. Overall, it just looks way to crowded with too many awkward quirks. Still, the Jackie Robinson rotunda is nice, but take the uncrowded outfield of Shea and move it to Citi and there ya go.
- Speaking of crowded outfields, Kauffman stadium's outfield appears that way too. I like the stuff they've done beyond the fountains - i.e. the stuff outside of the seating areas - but taking out a whole section of the fountain on one side and not the other? Just looks unbalanced and out of place. The hall of fame club is a good addition though, and the bullpens look smooth. Maybe I'll have to go to be convinced. Bit of a problem when you live 3000+ miles away.
- Thoughts are with the Adenhart, Kalas and Fidrych families after the respective passings of 3 great men.
- The Giants still can't score runs. Nothing changes here then. They might need Buster Posey sooner rather than later.
- Am I the only one who feels that the Nationals should just start over again?
- Watch out for Zack Grienke this year. This guy is on fire. Keep Jack Johnson in check too. He's an ace in the making.
- Is Evan Longoria trying to win the MVP award this year? If he keeps it up he might well do just that.
- Looks like A.J. Burnett isn't planning on becoming the next Carl Pavano anytime soon. Still, you just know how much I'd love to see all this big spending blow up in the Bombers faces. Speaking of Pavano and Burnett, they're both matched up on sunday at the stadium as the Indians take on the Yanks.
- Should the Cubs have let Mark DeRosa go to the Indians? No. But Theriot and Fontenot are doing just fine so far. What's more concerning is how they gave up a prospect like Jose Ceda to the Marlins for Kevin Gregg. And still didn't make Carlos Marmol the closer after Kerry Wood went to the Indians too. Come on Lou, there's holding a guy's hand and there's holding a guy's hand. let the fella loose already.
- Nick Swisher should never be allowed back on the mound again. Although he did pitch a scoreless inning.
- No disrespect to Steve Phillips, but Sunday night baseball was better when it was just John and Joe.
Stay tuned for another great week of baseball action. This weekend's gonna be a good one.
On friday I'll be watching a gem in Seattle, as Justin Verlander and the Tigers take on Felix Hernandez and the (7-2!!) Mariners. Also on friday, I'll be watching thursday night's Mets/Padres game, as Jake Peavy and John Maine do battle. Mark Buehrle and Scott Kazmir will be hearing cowbells allnight long in Tampa as the Rays and the White Sox get it on. And to round out the week it's Cubs/Cardinals from Wrigley on Sunday night baseball. Couldn't get better than that!
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