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2008 Major League Baseball Preview: Teams to Watch |
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Written by David DeIulis
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
TAMPA BAY RAYS
For the Tampa Bay Rays, while a Division Title or World Series appearance is not commensurate to the workings of even the most optimistic prognosticators’ minds, the first winning season in the franchise’s eight year history is. The Rays finished 66-96, fifth in the American League East last year under second year manager Joe Maddon, but after an offseason influx of veterans, including outfielder Cliff Floyd and shortstop Jason Bartlett, that will most likely change. The acquisition of a veteran such as Floyd, while seemingly inconsequential, provides much-needed protection in a lineup featuring supremely talented young hitters like Carlos Pena, who set career highs in virtually every statistical category last year including 46 home runs and 121 RBIs, and Carl Crawford, owner of the most triples in the major leagues since 2003. Jason Bartlett, light-hitting as he may be, provides intangibles often overlooked in the big-money American League that are climacteric to the success of a young team. The Rays have enough offensive ammunition to compete even in the AL East, but their strike-out susceptibility – six Rays struck out over 110 times last year- combined with a collective lack of plate discipline- only one Ray, Carols Pena, walked over 100 times- could cause the Ray’s gun to misfire. The Tampa Bay pitching rotation could be a pleasant surprise for pitching coach Jim Hickey. Scott Kazmir and James Shields, after combining for 25 wins and 423 strikeouts, are worthy of their top-of-the rotation status. Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson round out one of the league’s youngest starting rotations, but with careful coaching, these young arms may turn out to be young in age only.
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Walk With B.Q.Barnes The Miami Heat Game |
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Written by Barry Q. Barnes
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Tuesday, 08 April 2008 |
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The Heat were in town and you could not help to think that this was a “give me” game for the Wizards. The way the Wizards lost last Wednesday to the Milwaukee Buck-a buzzer-beater, again- they needed a win to get back on track. The Heat was a gift from God.
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Hansbrough ready for the next level? |
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Written by Wendall Stevens
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Sunday, 06 April 2008 |
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After the loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, a dejected Tyler Hansbrough answered questions from reporters on the game and his future. "Right now I don't know about that. It's just too early for me to say right now. I haven't even thought about that yet."
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"Playing at an arena near you" |
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Written by Barry Q. Barnes
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Friday, 04 April 2008 |
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About 32% of current NBA players have participated in the Final Four. It’s a good indication that during this weekend’s Final Four match-ups, we will be watching the future NBA players. Players such as UCLA’s Kevin Love, Darren Collison, Luc Richard, Mbah A Moute- Memphis’s Joey Dorsey (Baltimore), Chris Douglas-Roberts, & Derrick Rose-Kansas’s Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. I expect these players to declare for the draft in two weeks.
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Thursday, 27 March 2008 |
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The NCAA will begin it's second week of March Madness on Thursday. This week also marks the alleged opening day of the Major League Baseball season. There is the little issue of the "racist" Vogue magazine cover, and the NFL plans on opening a new salon next season...
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