Baseball story lines take shape
Even in the black hole otherwise known as early January, baseball still fills up the cosmos with news, rumors and gossip. It’s impossible to ignore the buzz. The industry has its tentacles wrapped tightly around you, from here to pitchers and catchers.
Already, we can see the developing story lines for 2009: Do the New York Yankees have the firepower to return to the postseason? (It appears a certainty.) Will the New York Mets get their revenge on the Philadelphia Phillies? (We like their chances.) Will Roger Clemens weasel his way out of indictment? (Don’t hold your breath, even though he is.)
Here are the people to watch in the coming months, on both sides of the who’s-hot, who’s-not list.
•Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: He got out of the American League just in time, much to the Mets’ delight. Between Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, the Mets should be untouchable with a lead after the seventh inning. But Rodriguez had better hang on to that fastball, which has been in decline for the last two seasons. Better put, the new closer in Flushing had better back up that post-save celebrating.
•Cole Hamels, Phillies: As if this rivalry needed higher-octane incendiary fuel, the World Series MVP went ahead and called the Mets choke artists. Not that Hamels was technically wrong. But circle May 1 on your calendar, the first time the Mets set foot in Citizens Bank Park.
•Mark Teixeira, Yankees: The world will be watching how the Bombers’ new $180 million man reacts to big-market, big-contract pressure. Teixeira has all the tools for a long, successful reign in the Bronx, but a fast start in April would help matters greatly.
•Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox: He’s the Sox’s best hope at Fenway for derailing the Yankees’ rotation, especially if they don’t land Derek Lowe. The Japanese right-hander wasn’t as good as the 2006 hype, but not nearly as bad as he was in 2007. Matsuzaka’s numbers in 2008 – 18-3, 2.90 ERA, .211 opponents’ average – would make a cult hero out of CC Sabathia in pinstripes.
•Kerry Wood, Cleveland Indians: There are a growing number of reasons to make the Indians the early favorites in the A.L. Central, and Wood is at the top of the list. If he’s healthy, he’ll be a devastating effective closer.
•Rickey Henderson: Can’t wait for the acceptance speech at Cooperstown this summer.
•Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers: What’s the over-under before he takes a walk on his under-performing team? It was a miracle that Leyland finished out the 2008 season as the Tigers slogged to an 88-loss season.
•J.J. Putz, Mets: Two predictions for Putz’s coming summer as Rodriguez’s eighth-inning butler: He’ll be great. And he will hate it.
•Billy Beane, Oakland A’s GM: He has money to spend – or at least did before the entire industry (except for the Yankees) started sweating the dollars. But the fact that Beane was chasing Rafael Furcal indicates he was willing to write a big check.
•Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay Rays GM: Would he be willing to move Carl Crawford next summer? Friedman has, to date, traded Crawford a million times in his mind; it might just happen in 2009.