Hot Stove Season

In the past week, we have ended the 2008 Major League Baseball Season, begun the 2008/2009 NBA Season, ended a 33 year streak of Bowl Appearances by Michigan, ended the Calaveras Redskins string of MLL Championships and started the second half of the NFL Season. 

Phillies won the rain delayed final game of the World Series to win their Second World Championship.  It was fitting that Brad Lidge was on the mound for the Phillies. Lidge was a dominating closer for the Astros in 2005, until Luis Pujols hit a monstrous shot off him in the Playoffs.  Lidge then went to the mental zone that has a tendency to suck up pitchers for no reason. Lidge went into the pitchers black hole, inconsistent and no where near his former self.  He ended up with the Phillies and for the 2008 season, he was perfect as a reliever with no blown saves. 

We can now move onto the Hot Stove season for baseball.  As soon as one season ends the next one begins. Free agency is being filed for.  The big questions, where do Manny Ramirez and CC Sabathia end up.  Manny wants a long term deal for a good chunk of cash.  This limits his options down substantially.  His other issue pertains to the level of his effort.  For the last few years in Boston, he underperformed.  The numbers were pretty good, but after the final couple of months in Los Angeles, we found out exactly what he could do when motivated.  He’s a risk.  Los Angeles and Joe Torre would seem to be the perfect fit.  A manager experienced at handling a gazillionaire prima donna. A town that he can disappear in.  However, they have only offered a 2 year deal and Manny is looking for a 4 year deal.  The Yankees are probably the only team that is willing to take the dive on the long term deal.  The fun is ahead on this one.

For our beloved Giants, where do they need to go? To begin, they have, finally, a good young nucleus to build on.  The outfield would appear to be set, Lewis, Rowland, Winn and Schierholz.  The infield is a little more unsettled, with no position nailed down at this time.  We have some good candidates for the open spots.  Molina, Sandoval, Ishigawa, Burris, Frandsen and Bowker. 

The Giants are in need of a couple of legitimate power hitters.  In Pac Bell, they need left side of the field power.  Anyone, except super Barry, that tries to or needs to go to the right side for their power numbers is not going to work in San Francisco.  They need two power hitters that can go to left. I don’t think that the free agent market has anyone that we can use, however, Matt Holliday may be available from the Rockies.  Holliday is one of the premier right handed hitters in the National League.  Granted he plays in hitter friendly Coors Field.  But he is the type of hitter the Giants lineup needs.  The Giants can use some of their youth to get him there. 

Holliday will not come cheap, but the Giants have some youth that they can trade to get him and then sign him to a long term contract. Put Lewis and Sanchez together on the plate to offer to Colorado for Holliday.  The Giants would need to talk with Holliday prior to completing the deal to have him signed up for 4 or 5 years. 

Friday night, things looked real good for Calaveras in the first quarter.  The Redskins jumped out to a 14-0 lead against the bigger Argonaut Mustangs.  The momentum began to change in the second quarter, as the strength of Argonaut began to show.  Argonaut built up a lead and Calaveras was unable to close off drives.  Argonaut dominated the second half.  They ended up scoring 35 unanswered points and effectively won their first MLL Championship since 2003 and ended a 3 year string of titles for the Redskins. Calaveras continues their quest for a playoff spot next week against league surprise, Summerville.  The Redskins need to take into consideration that in 2004, Argonaut won the Section Title as the third place finisher in the MLL.  As long as your still playing, you have a chance to win the title.  As Yogi said, “It ain’t over til it’s over”.

Fresno State once again, looks great in early season battles with teams from BCS conferences and then fails to come home and take care of business in the WAC.  The diamond Dogs, struggled early in the season but took care of business in the WAC.  Earned a berth in the Tournament and caught some lightning in a jar and won the Championship.  Division I football doesn’t have that kind of playoff system, but it’s a longshot that our current plan is going to ever get us to the big payday of a BCS Bowl game anyways.  Take care of business in the WAC, don’t focus on the BCS teams.

Besides, the teams that we tend to beat in the BCS conferences are not exactly at the top of those leagues, Wisconsin and UCLA.