Yeah, I wish the Rockies had their own network. I am totally getting the jones for some baseball but no means to get my fix for it.

Adam Wainwright going back to St. Louis to get his elbow examined. Team thinks he is going to need Tommy John surgery.

That's a huge blow. I'd say that probably puts the kabash on their chances at the Central this year.

I guess we'll see him pitching in 2012 then.

^^ Agreed...they're toast w/o him...it was already the Reds division to lose...Pirates suck, Cubs suck, Houston's rebuilding, Milwaukee is suspect, Cards are hurting...possibly one of the worst divisions in baseball...

I think if any team that will challenge the Reds for the NL Central crown it will be the Brewers.

^^ Agreed...I was watching ESPN this morning and they were profiling the Brewers...lots of offense but a pretty weak rotation if, in fact, they're relying on Manny Parra to have a great year...it will be interesting to see what kind of year Greinke has as I suspect he might be a bit of a head case...

I think Milwaukee's rotation is actually pretty solid.

Gallardo and Greinke are a nice 1-2 punch. Marcum is a nice #3. Wolf a decent #4. The 5th spot isn't a strength but, health permitting, I like their 1-4.

My bad..."weak" was the wrong word to use...on paper, they're solid, but I'm not sold on Greinke at the top...i don't question his stuff - it's filthy...i question his leadership...a bit of a crybaby at times...will be interested to see how he rebounds...out of that bunch, I think Marcum is the dark horse, and I'm not just saying that b/c I played against him in high school...great composure and ability...cool dude too...Gallardo slipped my mind...solid #2 for sure...if they gel, they'll be tough...Wolf at #4 is a perfect fit too...

With Greinke's history of anxiety issues I wouldn't want to put him the position of having to be the leader of a staff either. Use him for his pitching ability and leave it at that. I'd have slated Greinke as my #2 and put Gallardo as my #1, who I am really high on.

You faced Marcum in HS? Home run? That would be sweet.

Yeah...Missouri State U. (formerly Southwest Missouri State) is one of the best kept secrets in college baseball...Marcum went there and so did Ryan Howard...i played against Marcum in high school in a couple American Legion tourneys...he was a couple years younger than me but was already nasty - an 85 mph fastball with serious movement and great command of his change up...faced him in 2 games...went 2-for-8 against him with a single and a double...he struck out 15 in one game and 13 in the other...he K'ed me five times in those games - twice on straight change ups that made me look plain silly...lol...i played against Howard during a summer league in college...he was already a freak...the pitchers on his team said he could pick up spot color markings (purple, green, orange, etc.) on a full-speed fastball...i sucked for the most part but was good enough to get to college based on (extremely) raw talent alone...lol...i was basically a football player trying to play baseball...

Can't wait to see this guy in action.

TEMPE, Ariz. – Torii Hunter(notes) looks up at Loek van Mil – cranes his neck and looks up, up, up at Van Mil – and sees intimidation and dominance, a pitcher he wants on his side. Hunter is convinced the right-hander from Holland will become the first 7-footer to play in the major leagues, and soon.

“I’ll take my chances with him,” the veteran Los Angeles Angels outfielder said. “He’s part of a rare breed. That’s a guy you want on the mound.”

Hunter is in the same organization as the 7-foot-1 Van Mil for the second time. Last August, Van Mil was traded to the Angels from the Minnesota Twins, the team that signed both players. Hunter made a point of watching him pitch in spring training five years ago when Van Mil was throwing only 87 mph. Since then, his velocity has increased to 99 mph on a good day, 95 consistently. Van Mil’s first name is pronounced “Luke,” and his cool hand fires bullets.

“His stride is so long, it’s like he’s handing the ball to the catcher,” Hunter said

Damn, that's some pretty cool history heavyaxe! I wish I could relay some history like that. Closest I came to playing against a pro was I was on JV and saw a dude named Scott Kozak play against our varsity football team. He ended up getting drafted by the Houston Oilers.

I think Milwaukee will give the Reds a run for their money. It'll all kind of depend on how good the lauded Reds pitching youth holds up. A lot of young arms and heads they'll need to keep in check there. I think Greinke is gonna have a big bounce back season. A change of scenery is usually good for younger players and I think it'll especially benefit him. My main man Randy Wolf goes back to a #4 spot, where he belongs, instead of being depended upon as the Opening Day man. And the Brew Crew has enough offense to compete with anyone in the NL.

I'd hate to see Wainwright go down. Love that guy, he seemingly gets underrated in every fantasy draft I'm in and he has frequently fallen into my lap lower than he should have been. Maybe that'll happen again with this news (if he ends up playing). I think I'm always going to root for the Cards in that division after my great experience at Bucsh Stadium a couple years back. At least until I see a game at Wrigley I guess.

And we're off! Early Vegas O/U win totals for the season. FYI, they've got both Milwaukee and Cinci at 85.5. Cards are at the same number, but +120.

Arizona Diamondbacks
501 Over 72½ reg season wins -110
502 Under 72½ reg season wins -110

Atlanta Braves
503 Over 87½ reg season wins -110
504 Under 87½ reg season wins -110

Baltimore Orioles
505 Over 76½ reg season wins -130
506 Under 76½ reg season wins +110

Boston Red Sox
507 Over 95½ reg season wins +100
508 Under 95½ reg season wins -120

Chicago Cubs
509 Over 81½ reg season wins -120
510 Under 81½ reg season wins +100

Chicago White Sox
511 Over 84½ reg season wins -110
512 Under 84½ reg season wins -110

Cincinnati Reds
513 Over 85½ reg season wins -110
514 Under 85½ reg season wins -110

Cleveland Indians
515 Over 72½ reg season wins +100
516 Under 72½ reg season wins -120

Colorado Rockies
517 Over 86½ reg season wins -110
518 Under 86½ reg season wins -110

Detroit Tigers
519 Over 84½ reg season wins +110
520 Under 84½ reg season wins -130

Florida Marlins
521 Over 82½ reg season wins +100
522 Under 82½ reg season wins -120

Houston Astros
523 Over 72½ reg season wins +110
524 Under 72½ reg season wins -130

Kansas City Royals
525 Over 68½ reg season wins -115
526 Under 68½ reg season wins -105

Los Angeles Angels
527 Over 83½ reg season wins +100
528 Under 83½ reg season wins -120

Los Angeles Dodgers.
529 Over 83½ reg season wins -110
530 Under 83½ reg season wins -110

Milwaukee Brewers
531 Over 85½ reg season wins -110
532 Under 85½ reg season wins -110

7:00 PM Minnesota Twins
533 Over 85½ reg season wins -125
534 Under 85½ reg season wins +105

New York Mets
535 Over 77½ reg season wins -110
536 Under 77½ reg season wins -110

New York Yankees
537 Over 91½ reg season wins -120
538 Under 91½ reg season wins +100

Oakland Athletics
539 Over 82½ reg season wins -160
540 Under 82½ reg season wins +140

Philadelphia Phillies
541 Over 97½ reg season wins +120
542 Under 97½ reg season wins -140

Pittsburgh Pirates
543 Over 66½ reg season wins -130
544 Under 66½ reg season wins +110

San Francisco Giants
545 Over 87½ reg season wins -120
546 Under 87½ reg season wins +100

San Diego Padres
547 Over 75½ reg season wins -130
548 Under 75½ reg season wins +110

Seattle Mariners
549 Over 70½ reg season wins -110
550 Under 70½ reg season wins -110

St Louis Cardinals
551 Over 85½ reg season wins +120
552 Under 85½ reg season wins -140

Tampa Bay Rays
553 Over 84½ reg season wins +110
554 Under 84½ reg season wins -130

Texas Rangers
555 Over 86½ reg season wins +100
556 Under 86½ reg season wins -120

Toronto Blue Jays
557 Over 76½ reg season wins -110
558 Under 76½ reg season wins -110

Washington Nationals.
559 Over 72½ reg season wins -110
560 Under 72½ reg season wins -110

San Diego Padres
547 Over 75½ reg season wins -130
548 Under 75½ reg season wins +110

Ouch! that team won 90 games last season!

No way three teams in the NL Central win 86 games a piece. The odd team out would seem to be St. Lou, where the number will probably be adjusted if Wainwright gets Tommy John surgery. Probably not by much though, these number typically don't move a lot.

The Yankees at 91.5 seems like a bargain. You know they'll probably pull some insane trade midseason to get pitching. Although they were unable to do this last season, or at least Texas beat them to the punch. They've only finished below 92 wins twice in the last 15 seasons.

The Cards' GM said Wainwright's getting the Tommy John surgery...that kills the Cards, especially given concerns about Garcia's stamina in the #3 slot...I don't have a whole lot of faith in Garcia, Westbrook and Lohse picking up the slack even if the concerns about Garcia are laid to rest...

Red, not to brag, but I also played against Jay Werth...never in a thousand years would I have ever thought that guy would break the bank the way he did with the Nats...lol...he was an injury-prone beanpole in high school...granted, he was a great hitter, but he was always hurt...also, when I was a kid, my dad would drive us to watch Jim Thome play high school games in the Peoria, IL area... people thought that guy could walk on water...I don't believe it was ever confirmed, but locals claim he hit a 500-foot home run in high school...lol...

I think I'd take the over with Oakland from that list upon initial glance.

Atlanta, I don't know. They had 91 wins last year and should only be better this year with the addition of Uggla and their young pitchers being a year older and experienced now. But they have a hole at closer and I just don't know if they have 91 wins in them again. Neither does Vegas but at 87 I don't know if I should go over or under with that.

I think if I bet on the Yanks, I'd go over but it all depends on TB. They have bullpen issues which could derail their season imo, but if not, then I think they hold the Yanks back from the over. Yanks have starting pitching issues but a very solid bullpen and an offense that is coming off a down year and I think likely to rebound. I take the Red Sox for the division easily but I think the Yanks could do better than expected and I agree that they are likely to make a trade or two this season for pitching help.

I would like to be able to wager on the Rox but I think Vegas's number is on the higher side and I never like betting against a team I am rooting for. Mets I don't have much faith in this year but they are a team that also does their best when they are not expected to, so I might take their over.

The whole NL West I don't know how I would go actually. I think I'd take the over for LA though.

yes network is yankees, msg network is knicks and rangers and sny is the mets here.

Isn't the YES Network the Mets also?

I just got my ticket confirmation for the Yankees/Cubs series in Chicago 6/17 to 6/19! Wrigley Field has been a bucket list entry for me for the past 25 years! I'm going to need some Windy City bar recommendations from you fine folks if you've got any........even if you're a Yankee hater........Please....Come on...I'm asking nicely!

S.O.T.D.

Word coming out of NY these past few days is that the Yankees are willing to offer Joba (The Hutt) Chamberlain or Ivan Nova plus prospects for Francisco Liriano. Seems that the Twins are affraid he'll walk once his contract is up and wont be able to get anything in return. I haven't been keeping up with Baseball this season but it seems like a reasonable assumption...

For some reason, I have this feeling that Minny would only ever trade Liriano the Yanks as a last resort. Seems kinda crazy to aid one of your strongest competitors.

My favorite stadium. Have fun.

Don't know any bars but that burger place, Kuma?, is definitely a worthy place to check out.

A good burger, but from a metal standpoint it's pure kitsch. There are a ton of great bars in Chicago though. I stayed basically in Wrigleyville while the Cubs were out of town and MF pointed out a cool dive that Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy used to scope for their prey. Kind of creepy, but had that sort of atmosphere/vibe if you're into that. But yeah, if you just want your standard beer and suds type of sports bar, you can't throw a rock and not hit one down in that part of Chicago. From a musical standpoint, they've got a ton of stuff happening every night there. I saw Keelhaul at the Beat Kitchen when I was there two years ago. Awesome.

I knew Scoscia was a funny guy, but I never realized just how far he goes with Spring training jokes. It's worth reading the linked article for the ostrich story.
================
TEMPE, Ariz. – The boss hands out assignments during an early morning meeting. Players come back with the Harlem Globetrotters, more toys than Santa Claus and, in one instance, an 8-feet-tall ostrich and a palpitating pitcher.

It’s been this way with the Los Angeles Angels going on 12 seasons, ever since Mike Scioscia became manager. Links-loving pitcher Jered Weaver(notes) was told to report back on every golf course within 50 miles of the team’s spring training complex with a map pasted on poster board. Math-hating pitcher John Lackey(notes) had to re-take a college algebra final he’d failed nine years earlier, the exam hand-delivered to the clubhouse by two Arizona State professors. Two heavy metal-loving rookies were dispatched to Medieval Times to find the link between the music and the Middle Ages...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=s ... ager030211

^ that's classic...helluva manager as well...quite a few retired catchers seem to have future-coach-DNA in them...