The Braves and Nationals blessed us with a good ballgame last night--a 3-2 Nats victory on Ryan Zimmerman's game-ending home run--to start the North American portion of the 2008 season. Here are a few thoughts on the first ever game at Nationals Park, which received plenty of praise from ESPN broadcasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan....

Nick "The Stick" Johnson looks terrific, showing few ill effects from the broken leg that kept him out all of last season. With a slimmed down physique, Johnson stretched a single into a double as he successfully challenged Jeff Francoeur's throwing arm. In contrast, Johnson's backup, Dmitri Young, came to camp weighing in excess of 33 pounds. If Johnson continues to play well, Young won't see much more than an occasional start at first base against left-handed pitching. That won't help Young's trade value. Perhaps the solution will involve trading Johnson, whose trade value is already on the upswing...

Manny Acta drew rave reviews for his managing in 2007, but one has to question his ability to make out a lineup card when he employs Cristian Guzman, of all people, as his leadoff hitter. Guzman, who is annually among the league's worst in on-base percentage, shouldn't even be in the starting lineup, let alone the leadoff spot. Lastings Milledge would be a far better choice, as would Ronnie Belliard. Heck,just about any of the Nationals' starters would be a better fit at leadoff than Guzman...

The Braves had to be thrilled with Tim Hudson's performance; his sinker looked to be in mid-season form, at least from the second inning on. Hudson will also benefit from having Yunel Escobar as his starting shortstop. With his superior range, he'll be a big improvement defensively over Edgar Renteria...

On the down side, the Braves are not going to be satisfied with Mark Kotsay for long. At one time a fine player, Kotsay has been worn down by a series of injuries over then last three seasons. He looked overmatched at the plate, makings outs with three lazy fly balls in his Braves debut. I wouldn't be shocked to see Jordan Schafer patrolling center field for the Braves by June.

Hey, it's a new look at MLBlogs, so let's hit the ground running with an in-depth post about the most recent trade and waiver wire rumors. On the eve of baseball's true Opening Day, here is the latest scuttlebutt...

In reality, few trades of any substance are made during spring training. This year has been no different. There were two trades made this week, but both involved back-of-the-roster pitchers lacking in brand names, former D-Back Dustin Nippert and ex-Brave Tyler Yates. The Rangers are hoping that Nippert can contribute to their bullpen depth before eventually moving into the rotation, while the Pirates would like Yates to emerge as a prime set up man to Matt Capps. In both cases, the Rangers and Pirates gave up little, so their gambles are reasonable ones. Yates, in particular, has the kind of live arm that could catch lightning in a bottle for the sad-sack Bucs...

While there figures to be little trading between now and tomorrow's openers, there has been plenty of roster shapeshifting as teams try to lower their rosters to the 25-man limit. Along these lines, we might continue to see some players hit the waiver wire, while others will be claimed from that same place that occupies baseball limbo. So let's takes a look at what has happened--and what might still be to come...

To say the least, the sage of Ruben Gotay has been bewildering. For some reason, the Mets decided to waive the valuable switch-hitting infielder, who was one of their best second-half hitters in 2007. Given Gotay's youth (he's only 25), smooth swing from the left side, and ability to fill in at third base, no one expected him to clear waivers. He didn't, but then again, few would have predicted that the Braves would have placed a claim, especially with Kelly Johnson entrenched at second base and Chipper Jones still manning third. Several other teams, picking before the Braves, decided to pass on Gotay. They include the Dodgers, who need infield depth, and the Pirates, who will be opening the new season with waiver wire material like Luis Rivas at second base. Go figure...

The release of Gotay has cleared the way for Fernando Tatis to make the Mets' roster as a backup first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. Given their resources, one wonders if that is the best the Mets could have done. Matt Murton, who is even more available than usual these days after the signing of Reed Johnson, would make a lot of sense as a platoon partner for either Angel Pagan or Endy Chavez. There's been so0me talk of an Aaron Heilman-for-Murton swap, but that's a hefty price to pay from the Mets' perspective. Heilman, who is an integral part of the Mets' shaky bullpen, is far more valuable than a platoon partner like Murton...

Other teams that look like good fits for Murton include the Orioles, who need outfield depth in the worst way, especially after the Brian Roberts talks fell apart. Even with Roberts out of the equation, the Orioles and Cubs could still do a smaller deal involving Murton and a minor league prospect or two. One team that can be crossed off the Murton wish list is the Rays, who filled a need for a backup outfielder by claiming Nathan Haynes off waivers from the Angels. Haynes will fill a role as a backup center fielder and late-inning pinch-runner...

David Wells and Jeff Weaver now have company on the unemployment line for starting pitchers, after the Astros surprisingly released Woody Williams. Since the Astros are already on the hook for most of Williams' salary, someone might have been willing to sign the veteran right-hander for the major league minimum, but Williams has already indicated that he will retire. A pitcher of limited physical talents, Williams' ability to maintain a major league career through his 41^st birthday is a testament to both his own perseverance and the continuous lack of quality starting pitching in the contemporary game...

The Reds continue to shop jack-of-all-trades Ryan Freel, who figures to be no more than a platoon center fielder with Corey Patterson. Freel's versatility, never-ending hustle, speed, and decent bat will make him attractive to a number of teams. He'd look good wearing the pinstripes of either of the New York teams. The Mets, with their need for right-handed hitting, and the Yankees, who lack right-handed hitting outfielders, should both be interested in Freel. Freel would also be a perfect fit for the White Sox, who need help at both second base and center field, Freel's two primary positions.

Earlier this week, Internet baseball writer Maury Brown took some shots at Major League Baseball for its handling of the Civil Rights Game, which takes place this Saturday in Memphis and will be accompanied by a discussion panel about baseball’s history of integration. Brown has questioned the composition of the panel, which features current general managers Omar Minaya and Kenny Williams, but doesn’t include the relatives of any former Negro Leagues players. More to the point, Brown feels that MLB is patting itself on the back for its efforts in diversifying the game, while ignoring its own shameful history of segregation.
I have to admit I’m disturbed by Brown’s pessimistic reaction. Can’t we let the panel take place before condemning it? How does Brown know exactly what will be discussed? Does he have a copy of the agenda? Also, I wonder how many immediate family members of Cool Papa Bell, Rube Foster, or Josh Gibson are even alive; sadly, very few relatives of Negro Leagues players come here to Cooperstown for the annual induction ceremonies. I'm not sure if there is much of a relatives pool to draw from in putting together a baseball-and-race panel.

I know this won't be a popular sentiment with some readers, but hey, when has that stopped me before? It's fine to be angry about baseball's past segregation, but at what point do we stop wallowing in bitterness? One of the joys of Buck O'Neill was listening to him speak without bitterness about his experiences in baseball. He acknowledged the wrong that baseball did, but didn't allow it to make him miserable. He had every right to be angry and resentful, but chose not to be. If O'Neill wasn’t bitter (at least not publicly), then why are some young white guys (now Internet writers) who never experienced Jim Crow first-hand so bitter about it?

I think it's far healthier to acknowledge the past sins, note the improvement, and then try to move forward with additional progress…

Former major league outfielder Roy Foster died last week. A relatively young man, he was only 62. Though certainly not a household name, Foster will always enliven memories of my youthful card collecting days. I’ll forever remember Roy Foster as a Texas Ranger—even though he never played a regular season game for the Rangers. I started collecting cards in 1972; that set features Foster as a Ranger. They had acquired him during the winter from the Indians, only to send him back to Cleveland before the start of the season. After playing in 73 games for the Indians in 1972, he never again appeared in a major league game.

Foster had one big season, his first, when he won The Sporting News’ American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1970. It was a strange selection, as The Sporting News bypassed the Yankees' Thurman Munson, who was the top rookie choice of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. I don’t think that TSN’s eligibility rules were any different from the BBWAA, but maybe they were swayed by Foster’s HR/RBI numbers (23 and 60, in less than a full season's worth of games); those kinds of statistics were given bigger play in 1970 than they are today. (By the way, Foster finished second on the Indians in home runs to Graig Nettles, giving him another tie-in to a former Yankee.)

After giving the Indians every indication they had found their left fielder for the next decade, Foster fell off the map. Never again a productive player, he was out of the game just two years later. So what happened? I asked Steve Treder of The Hardball Times if he knew. “I must admit I’ve always been as mystified as everyone else as to what happened to him. At the time, there were no reports of an injury issue; he just kind of quickly and quietly flamed out.”

Foster’s lack of all-around talent may have played a part. “It is true that he was a one-dimensional talent (all bat, no glove, no speed) who was almost certainly hitting over his head in 1970,” says Steve. “He wasn’t really that good. But even at the reduced rate of offense he was producing in 1970-71, he would seem to have been a useful commodity, as a platoon corner outfielder/DH type. But for whatever reason, he just disappeared from the majors.” As with so many players, Foster’s decline and fall remain a mystery…

Finally, I’m not surprised to hear about Dale Petroskey’s resignation under fire from the Hall of Fame, though I have to admit that I don’t know the specifics about his failures to exercise “judiciary responsibility.” I do know that morale at the Hall of Fame has been poor, and that may have been a factor in his ouster. Encouraging an upbeat and passionate attitude at 25 Main Street will be one of the new president’s primary tasks.

One of the central themes to spring training this year has involved the cutting of the super-prospect. Several teams have decided to demote--or at least they're leaning in that direction-- prized prospects that seem ready to make the jump to the major leagues. In some cases, the team’s motivation is to delay the so-called arbitration and free agent “clocks;” that way, a young player will have to wait longer before he can start to reap a financial windfall. In other cases, teams are committed to veteran players, even if they are inferior to their youthful competition.
Two National League teams demoted top young center fielders last week. The Reds announced that they had sent Jay Bruce, arguably the top prospect in either league, to Triple-A Louisville, thereby clearing the way for Corey Patterson to start the season in center field. There’s no doubt that Dusty Baker’s penchant for veterans played a hand in this; he likes his players proven and experienced. Some have defended Baker’s decision, citing Bruce’s age (21) and his lack of time at Triple-A. But most scouts agree that even a raw, unrefined Bruce is already a better hitter than the swing-and-miss Patterson. If the Reds end up losing a wildcard spot because they insisted that Bruce spend the first six weeks of the season at Louisville, they will rue that decision for months. Then there are the Braves, who informed Jordan Schafer that he would begin the season at Triple-A Richmond. Unlike Bruce, no one expected the 21-year-old Schafer to make the Opening Day roster, largely because he has never played a game above Class-A ball. But some scouts who watched Schafer play this spring say he’s ready to hold his own at the major league level and is already a better player than injury-plagued journeyman Mark Kotsay. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised to see Schafer playing center for Atlanta by July, as the Braves try to push the Mets and Phillies for the NL East title. Hopefully, for the Braves’ sake, it won’t be too late.

In the American League, the Rays expect to be so improved that they will have a chance to play .500 ball for the first time in franchise history. They also need a third baseman. Given these two situations, it would seem inevitable that Evan Longoria, enjoying a terrific spring in the Grapefruit League, would be a cinch to make the Opening Day roster. Well, not so fast. The Rays are dropping hints that they will have Longoria start the season at Triple-A before giving him a chance to make his major league debut. The Rays won’t admit the real reason they’re contemplating such an option; by sending him to the Durham Bulls, Longoria might have to wait until 2011 before becoming eligible for arbitration. If the Rays do bury Longoria for half a season at Triple-A, they’ll have to rely on Willy Aybar, who has a history of off-the-field problems. They might cost themselves that shot at .500, and who knows, perhaps even an outside shot at contending for the wild card.

The Rangers have a different motivation with Jarrod Saltalamacchia who has already made his big league debut, but has not spent a full season in the majors. With Gerald Laird enjoying a terrific camp, the Rangers are committing to him as their starting catcher. They’re reluctant to keep Saltalamacchia as the backup, since that might stunt his development, and they have reservations about using him as a DH, too. So even though Saltalamacchia has shown that he can handle major league pitching, he will probably be wasting the early part of the season with some unnecessary time at Triple-A Oklahoma. Saltalamacchia won’t make a difference in the Rangers’ pennant chances, since they really don’t have any in ‘08, but their fans will surely be frustrated if the team’s rebuilding goes on without a prized piece of the future in place.

It’s really a shame that some of the game’s most talented young players won’t be showcased on Opening Day. After all, the primary objective of spring training is to assemble the finest possible team within a span of six weeks. Barring injury, teams should emerge from Florida and Arizona with their best 25-man rosters. In the cases of the Reds, Braves, Rays, and Rangers, they don’t appear to be achieving that goal…

Finally, a few quick hits from the weekend:

The Blue Jays released Reed Johnson, one of J.P. Ricciardi’s favorites but no longer the same player he was before undergoing back surgery. The Mets should jump on Johnson as a platoon left field partner for Endy Chavez, filling the void until Moises Alou comes back from hernia surgery…

In one of the more interesting roster battles this spring, Jason Botts appears to have won a backup outfield spot on the Rangers’ roster, beating out Nelson Cruz. The switch-hitting Botts can play the outfield, first base, or DH. Cruz, who will likely be designated for assignment, could end up being traded to a team like the Cardinals or the Giants...

The Orioles announced that Kevin Millar will be their cleanup hitter. The O’s, a proud franchise that has boasted cleanup men like Boog Powell, Frank Robinson, and Cal Ripken, Jr. in better years, might just have hit rock bottom with that proclamation.

The Reds think they can contend this summer, but they believe that their catching situation will prove a hindrance to any legitimate pennant hopes. Cincinnati has two veteran catchers—David Ross and Javier Valentin—both of whom are serviceable players, but are best suited to reserve duty. The Reds feel they need a frontline catcher, which explains their recent conversations with the Rangers about Gerald Laird. (Laird, having a terrific spring, has become a hot commodity. The Brewers and Rays have also checked in about his availability.) The Reds are willing to offer one of their young pitchers—perhaps right-hander Matt Belisle as part of a larger package—but the Rangers seem reluctant to part with Laird. The Rangers’ reasoning is a bit hard to figure; they need pitching badly, and have a surplus of catching, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a superior player, stuck behind Laird on the depth chart. Having some depth behind the plate is fine, but not at the expense of failing to address Texas’ massive pitching problems…
The Reds’ concerns about their catching is understandable, but fears that Dusty Baker’s obsession with veterans will cost this team loom just as large. The Reds have already sent Jay Bruce back to Triple-A, even though he is a far better hitter than newly minted starting center fielder Corey Patterson. Now there are whispers that Scott Hatteberg will hold onto his first base job, successfully staving off a challenge from Joey Votto. While Bruce has relatively little minor league experience, Votto has already played 133 games at Triple-A. He seems to be ready for major league duty, and with his combination of power and speed (22 home runs and 17 steals at Louisville last year), would represent a large improvement over Hatteberg…

The Mets have already decided to take a pass on John Patterson, who was released by the Nationals earlier this week. Patterson’s inability to raise his fastball above 87 miles per hour sent up red flags for the Nats, who found no interest in the comebacking right-hander on the trade market. Not to worry; Patterson will surely find a new employer soon. The Astros, who need starting pitching in the worst way, have already expressed interest. The Phillies and Reds may also take a long look at the talented but injury-plagued veteran, who underwent experimental nerve surgery last summer…

The Mets are legitimately worried about their lack of right-handed hitting depth, but don’t appear to be ready to make a trade. Barring any deals, they’ll start the season with Angel Pagan in left field, backed up by Endy Chavez. Non-roster invite Brady Clark, an underrated ballplayer, might make the team as a spare outfielder, but that will depend on whether the Mets carry 11 or 12 pitchers to start the season…

In hot pursuit of quality relief pitching, the Tigers have talked to the Braves about a variety of pitchers (including Royce Ring) and the Cubs concerning Michael Wuertz. With Joel Zumaya out until at least mid-season, the Tigers realize they will need help to get them through the first half of the season. It’s uncertain what the Braves would want for Ring, but the Cubs will almost surely ask for Brandon Inge in their quest to add a right-handed hitting outfielder. Inge could also provide a backup for Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee on the infield corners.

If you take two good starting pitchers away from any major league team, the result would be significantly damaging. So it's not surprising that already much has been made of the fact that the Angels will have to endure the entire month of April without the services of Kelvim Escobar, who has a sore elbow, and John Lackey, who is struggling with a strained triceps. The Angels' hope is that both will be able to return sometime in May, but even that is uncertain.
While the losses of Lackey and Escobar have made the prospects for teams like the Mariners that much better, the fact of the matter is this: no team is better equipped to handle injuries to their starting rotation than the Angels. With the off-season addition of Jon Garland and a cache of ready-made prospects that includes Dustin Moseley and Nick Adenhart, the Angels have the kind of depth that can sustain them through a temporary wave of injuries. The key word here is temporary. If Lackey has to miss the entire season, that's an enormous loss that may cost the Angels the AL West. But if Lackey can return to the rotation by mid-May and regain full strength by June, the Angels will remain the favorites in the West. Now they still might need another bigtime hitter to protect Vladimir Guerrero, but that's a story for another day...

I'm always on the lookout for good baseball web sites. With that in mind, Mets fans should become aware of a new site featuring the work of devoted Mets diehard Matt Silverman. Matt has launched a worthwhile site called www.metsilverman.com. An avid follower of both the current-day Mets and the team's entire history, especially from the 1970s on, Matt is a prolific author of books and articles about New York's National League franchise. By the way, I love the name of the web site. Anytime you can creatively and seamlessly combine your name with the name of your favorite topic, you've done a good thing. Best of luck with the new venture, Matt...

Peter Clark is a name with whom fans of baseball history should become acquainted. Peter, who serves as the Hall of Fame's curator of collections, has been with the institution for 38 years, making him the longest tenured employee at 25 Main Street. The gentlemanly Clark is the feature of a nice article that's just been posted at the home page of the Hall of Fame's web site. Never one to seek attention for himself, Peter is one of baseball's essential "quiet" guys.

It's amazing how drastically player evaluations can change in the span of 12 months. One year ago, the Reds regarded Homer Bailey as their best pitching prospect--and one of the top five in the entire game. Meanwhile, scouts regarded Johnny Cueto as an undersized right-hander, often the kiss of death for a pitching prospect.
This spring, Bailey's stock has fallen so much that he's no longer a mortal lock to join Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo in the Reds' revamped rotation. Once mentioned in the same breath with the Phil Hughes and Clay Buchholzes of the world, Bailey has fallen out of the ranks of even the top ten pitching prospects in the game. In the meantime, Cueto has made scouts revise their reports on him with his brilliant pitching this spring. They're no longer focused on his 5'10" frame and chunky build, but on his climbing strikeout rates and shrinking walk numbers. Barring a collapse over the final two weeks of the spring, Cueto will be a part of Cincinnati's season-opening starting rotation...

The Cardinals are undergoing some serious internal debates over who should be their starting right fielder: Rule Five draftee Brian Barton or ancient veteran Juan Gonzalez, who is now battling an abdominal strain. Who are the Cardinals kidding here? They don't figure to contend in the improving NL Central, so why not go with Barton, a young player with tools who was the top prospect taken in Rule Five? (Hey, maybe they don't like Barton's long dreadlocks, which have made him a candidate for worst hair in the major leagues.) Within a year, Barton has a chance of becoming a productive starting outfielder on a team that needs outfield help like most teams need pitching. Within a year, Gonzalez has a chance of being retired--yet again...

Two non-roster players have moved closer to making the Yankees' Opening Day roster. Left-hander Billy Traber, who has been just about unhittable against left-handed bats, has now been added to the 40-man roster, filling the spot vacated by disabled right-hander Andrew Brackman. Traber's ability to handle left-handed bats, like that of the Red Sox' David Ortiz and the Rays' Carlos Pena, would be a welcome addition to the Yankees, who watched Mike Myers and Ron Villone flounder in that capacity last summer. And then there's Morgan Ensberg, who has been pounding out doubles on a daily basis and hitting over .300 while learning the subtleties of first base. Ensberg appears to be the favorite to win a spot as a platoon first baseman with either Jason Giambi or Wilson Betemit. If he does make the team (and it will take a monumental two-week collapse for him not to), Ensberg will wear No. 21, last worn by Yankee favorite and near-legend Paul O'Neill.

The Brian Roberts deal may now come to fruition, now that the Cubs have decided to include top relief prospect Jose Ceda as part of the return package. The latest rumors have the Cubs surrendering Ceda, right-hander Gallagher, lefty Donald Veal, and infielder Ronny Cedeno for Roberts, who would immediately become Chicago’s new second baseman and leadoff man. (Or at least he should be the leadoff man if Lou Piniella can lose his obsession with Alfonso Soriano.) If those rumors are accurate, the Orioles should jump at the offer. That’s a haul of three serviceable young pitchers and a competent middle infielder for Roberts, who is a very good player but one who has reached the peak of his value. As with the earlier trades that purged Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard from the roster in exchanged for boatloads of good prospects, this is just the kind of deal that Andy MacPhail should be making… The Orioles and Cubs might expand the deal further, with Baltimore throwing in Jay Payton and Chicago including Jason Marquis. The prospect of seeing Marquis facing the batting orders of the American League East is scary, while Payton would give the Cubs a hedge against Felix Pie not being ready to play center field every day… Along those latter lines, the Cubs continue to show interest in the Rangers’ Marlon Byrd, but their offer of Matt Murton hasn’t drawn much of a response…
The Red Sox’ decision to release Doug Mirabelli surprised a few Boston observers, but given the state of backup catching in the game, he won’t be out of work for long. The 37-year-old Mirabelli’s lack of conditioning and his .202 batting average raised some red flags in Red Sox Nation, but he’s still a competent defender who has hit 11 home runs in his last 275 at-bats. Several teams looking for an Andy Etchebarren type backup could use Mirabelli’s services. They include the White Sox, who need a right-handed hitting complement to A.J. Pierzynski, and the Dodgers, who desperately need to reduce Russell Martin’s workload. Then there are the Rays, who could use a veteran backup to Dioner Navarro, and perhaps even the Yankees, who have little catching depth available to them at Triple-A. Assuming Mirabelli wants to keep playing, he’ll find work quickly…

White Sox general manager Ken Williams hasn’t been impressed by the offers he’s been receiving for Joe Crede, who is batting under .100 this spring and hasn’t looked smooth in the field in his comeback from back surgery. Earlier this spring, the Giants offered Scott Williamson, whom they later released. Another offer featured Dave Roberts; the White Sox said no to that. Williams would be best served by waiting for the start of the regular season and hoping that Crede starts out quickly, thereby rebuilding his trade value. Trading Crede for fringe journeymen makes no sense at this point…

The Mets appear to be backing off potential trades for outfielders, where names like Payton and Reed Johnson have been running through the rumor mill. Angel Pagan’s play this spring has been so impressive that the Mets are giving serious thought to making him their Opening Day left fielder. The Mets have also been pleased by the performance of former Brewer flyhawk Brady Clark, who has an outside chance of sticking as a fifth outfielder behind Pagan and Endy Chavez.

Complaints from coaches like Larry Bowa of the Dodgers and Andy Van Slyke of the Tigers regarding the new requirement for wearing helmets have become very tiresome—not to mention borderline absurd. Van Slyke has become the latest to chime in, complaining that wearing the helmets for two and a half hours leaves him hot and gives him headaches after every game. I’m not sure why Van Slyke is suffering headaches, unless he has been wearing a helmet that is too small, but the complaints about the heat are ludicrous. Does Van Slyke not realize that he can take the helmet off when his team is in the field and he is sitting in the dugout? Thus far, Major League Baseball has kept fairly quiet about the coaches’ complaints, which have included threats by Bowa that he will disobey the rule during the regular season. If any base coaches refuse to wear the helmet, the umpires’ response should be quick and simple: either put the helmet on, be ejected from the game, or force your team to take a forfeit—take your pick. Given such alternatives, all coaches, including Bowa, will quickly comply with the common sense rule…
Speaking of absurdities, a strange rumor that surfaced earlier on Wednesday had the Red Sox sending Coco Crisp to the Mets for Angel Pagan. The rumor turned out to be a fabrication, which is good news for Red Sox fans. As much as Crisp struggled offensively in 2007, he is a far superior player to Pagan. An exceptional defender with occasional power, Crisp should bring more than a fifth outfielder like Pagan in return. Pagan has played extremely well this spring, spraying line drives while hustling on the bases and in the outfield, but he's still not worth Crisp in a straight up, man-for-man deal...

Pending the outcome of Josh Beckett’s back spasms, the Blue Jays have suffered the first major pitching injury of the spring. Casey Janssen, who was arguably Toronto’s best relief pitcher last season, will miss the entire season with a torn labrum. The Jays had been hoping that Janssen could make the transition from the bullpen to the rotation; now they’ll have to turn to Jesse Litsch as the No. 5 starter and find someone to replace Janssen as a primary set-up reliever. With Janssen sidelined, the Jays have to hope that B.J. Ryan can continue his rehabilitation from elbow surgery ahead of schedule. Janssen’s injury also increases the chances that Brandon League, another rehabbing pitcher, will make the Opening Day roster. Hey, maybe the Jays will even have room for Armando Benitez...

Finally, I don't think any of us should be surprised that the Yankees and Rays engaged in fisticuffs during Wednesday's exhibition game in St. Petersburg. Clearly dissatisfied with the Rays after a lack of remorse over the injury to prospect Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees have made it quite clear they will be a more aggressive, perhaps even pugnacious team under Joe Girardi. Shelley "Slam" Duncan could be looking at a fine and brief suspension for his "spikes-high" slide into second base, but I have the feeling that Girardi considers the penalty worth it given the strength of the message sent.

The Dodgers may be fooling themselves into thinking that Nomar Garciaparra can be their everyday third baseman. With Andy LaRoche set to miss up to two months because of a torn ligament in his thumb, Garciaparra has become the starter by default at the hot corner. Well, there are at least two problems with that proposition. Garciaparra hasn’t managed to stay healthy enough to play in more than 122 games in a season since 2003. Furthermore, he has never played more than 43 games in one season at third base, a position that demands quick reactions and good hands. Given those facts, the Dodgers will continue to monitor the trade market, which features veteran third basemen Joe Crede and Brandon Inge. The Dodgers may be regretting last year’s late-season deal that sent the versatile Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for overused right-hander Scott Proctor…
Make no mistake about it, the Mets are not going to sign Barry Bonds as a replacement for the injured Moises Alou. There are simply too many problems from the Mets’ perspective. Bonds has become a very poor defensive outfielder, to the point that very few National League teams have shown any interest in him. Some scouts don't think he should play the outfield at all. Also, what happens when Alou comes back? If the Mets play Bonds in left and Alou in right, Carlos Beltran will need an oxygen tank trying to cover center field. So do the Mets trade Alou? If so, what are the options in left field if Bonds gets hurt or has to go to trial during the season? These are all reasonable questions that need to be asked.

On the surface, signing Bonds sound promising, but there are so many variables that the Mets have decided to take a pass—and understandably so…

I don’t blame Joe Girardi one bit for being furious after Rays rookie Elliot Johnson barreled into Yankee catcher Francisco Cervelli, breaking his hand and effectively delaying the start of his minor league season. I’m all for playing the game hard, but collisions at the plate and hard takeout slides at second base should be reserved for the regular season, not the meaninglessness of spring training exhibitions. Don Zimmer, now an advisor with the Rays, defended Johnson by saying that he did the right thing, exhibition or not, and would have risked breaking his leg had he slid into the catcher’s shinguards. That’s pure nonsense. First off, runners don’t try to crash into a catcher to avoid injury; they do so to knock the ball out of the catcher’s glove. More to the point, I’ve never seen a player break a leg sliding feet-first into a catcher; far more injuries occur, both to the catcher and the baserunner, when the runner chooses to knock over the catcher. So Johnson not only injured Cervelli, but also put himself at risk with such a needless play.

One other point: the Rays are an odd organization. Rays manager Joe Maddon was unavailable for comment about Girardi's remarks after the game on Saturday, but Zimmer, who is neither the manager nor one of Maddon’s coaches, saw fit to respond. Since when did Zimmer become the front man for the organization, ahead of both the manager and general manager? Was this just another opportunity for Zimmer to take a shot at the Yankees for letting go of his close friend, Joe Torre?

Mets GM Omar Minaya was already on the lookout for a right-handed hitting first baseman-outfielder to play a backup role. Then came the news that Moises Alou will miss four to six weeks after hernia surgery, which will leave the Mets without their starting left fielder on Opening Day. Not surprisingly, Minaya has already initiated talks with the Tigers, who have both Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge to spare. The Mets’ interest in Thames really isn’t a new development, since his name came up during the winter meetings in December. The Mets are now offering right-hander Jorge Sosa for Thames straight-up; that makes sense for both teams, given the Tigers’ concerns about their pitching depth. Thames’ right-handed power and ability to play all three outfield positions would make him a good fit in New York.
Inge would be the more interesting pickup. As everybody knows, he’s miserable in Detroit and doesn’t want to catch, even though it might help his long-term value. Inge, who has experience playing center field, would have little trouble adjusting to left field at Shea Stadium. And when Alou returns from the disabled list, Thames could provide the Mets with a platoon partner for Ryan Church in right field and a backup to Carlos Delgado at first. Inge will, however, cost more than Sosa in return. The Tigers will probably want Mike Pelfrey (who is becoming more important given Orlando Hernandez’ lingering bunion problems) or perhaps a package featuring people like Carlos Muniz and/or Joe Smith.

There are other possibilities for the Mets, too. The Angels’ Juan Rivera, the Cubs’ Matt Murton, and the Pirates’ Xavier Nady are all eminently available. Nady is the most interesting name of the three, partly because he played for the Mets before being traded away in mid-season of 2006. The X-Man is also the most versatile, with the ability to play first base on a regular basis, or third base in an emergency situation…

As far as free agents go, the Mets have no interest in signing either Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa, in spite of what some writers have been suggesting...

The Giants have been scouting the A’s heavily of late, leading to speculation of a trade involving Dan Johnson. With Johnson out of options, the A’s will either have to carry him on their Opening Day roster, or move him in a deal, because he won’t clear waivers. GM Billy Beane won’t allow something silly like a Bay Area rivalry to stop him from making a deal with San Francisco. If the Giants offer something substantive, Beane will pounce. The acquisition of Johnson would allow the Giants to send Dan Ortmeier back to Triple-A for some additional experience...

Finally, a half dozen teams actually sent representatives to watch Sidney Ponson throw the other day. Some of them were impresed that Ponson touched 94 mile per hour on the radar gun. Other liked the fact that Ponson's weight has fallen to 248 pounds. That's all fine and well, but it still doesn't mean that Ponson can pitch. If someone does sign Ponson, that will be the 1,374th piece of evidence that there is simply not enough pitching to go around.

I heard the best possible baseball news today--and it had nothing to do with who won or lost an exhibition game, the latest trades or free agent signings, or the most recent steroid updates on Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.
The results of Bobby Murcer's biopsy show no recurrence of the brain cancer that first struck him a year ago. Yes! as Marv Albert might be tempted to exclaim. The potential abnormality that had concerned his doctors was merely the development of scar tissue, which can be a normal occurrence after the kind of brain surgery that Murcer underwent last year.

This is good news no matter whom it might concern, but it is an especially pleasant development because it happens to involve Murcer. Simply put, Bobby Murcer is one of the nicest gentlemen in all of baseball, a man who treats everyone he comes in contact with as if he were a long lost teammate. He is a man with an easygoing nature, a self-deprecating sense of humor, and an eagerness to look first and foremost at the good side of people. Several years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Murcer for MLB Radio; it remains one of the highlights of my broadcast career.

And, oh by the way, Murcer was a pretty good ballplayer in his day, a star during the first half of the 1970s before an unwanted trade led to some unpleasant summers at Candlestick Park and Wrigley Field. At his peak, Murcer was a legitimate five-tool talent who played center field to a Gold Glove level while tailoring his sweet left-handed swing to the friendly right-field fences at Yankee Stadium.

According to a baseball cliche, spring training is one of the best times of the season. That is especially true today, on the day when we heard some good news about a terrific man named Bobby Murcer.

We’ve played less than a full week of exhibition games, but already the Mets are facing their first potential crisis of the spring. The headline piece in a series of injury developments, Carlos Delgado’s troublesome hip bothered him so much over the weekend that the Mets sent him out of town for an examination. The Mets claim that Delgado will be sidelined for only a few days, but one has to wonder how much can be expected from the soon-to-be 36-year-old slugger. His bat slowed significantly last summer, he failed to make any adjustments, and now his hip has flared up again. Without a productive Delgado, the Mets are looking at a hole in their lineup, principally because they have no discernible backup who can give them a middle-of-the-order presence. Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson can fill in from time to time, but neither comes close to giving the Mets what they need from an everyday first baseman. Non-roster invite Olmedo Saenz is an excellent pinch-hitter, but again not the answer as someone who would see significant playing time at first base.
Omar Minaya has already begun to look at options. At least two veteran first basemen, Scott Hatteberg (Reds) and Nick "The Stick" Johnson (Nationals), are eminently available through trade, but the Mets would prefer a right-handed hitting first baseman. That way, if Delgado can still play, the Mets could arrange a platoon at the position. So the Mets will make inquiries on Kevin Millar (Orioles), Ryan Shealy (Royals), and Richie Sexson (Mariners), all of whom could be had relatively cheaply. Of those three, Millar makes the most sense. He’s a more proven commodity than Shealy, and not nearly the butcher that Sexson is on the right side of the infield. Then there is the switch-hitting Tony Clark, who seems like a bad fit as an outfielder in San Diego. A great clubhouse presence and a proven New York commodity, Clark would make a lot of sense for the Mets.

Then there is the waiver wire/free agent avenue. At one time, Minaya would have liked Craig Wilson, but that was before he failed his physical with the Reds, effectively ending his career. Other players could become available later this spring. The Yankees will likely have to cut either Morgan Ensberg or Jason Lane, and possibly both. Mike Sweeney is no guaranty to make Oakland’s roster; he could become available as the A’s continue their full-blown youth movement. The Cardinals have no real role for Josh Phelps, unless Albert Pujols’ elbow forces him to undergo surgery. Phelps can hit; he showed that in the second half of 2007 by slugging .649 in 77 at-bats for the Pirates, who then rewarded him by giving him his release at season’s end…

Recent complaints from young players about having their contracts renewed have become very tiresome. Once major league players have put in enough time for arbitration--or a longer span of time for free agency--they hold the hammer over their employers. Until that time, the owners have the upperhand. This kind of system--one that favors players with greater seniority, which is not all that different from many American business models--is what the Players Association has negotiated. It's a system of compromise. If younger players like Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, and Jonathan Papelbon are so upset about their contracts, they should make their complaints known to the union and push for changes at the next collective bargaining agreement--so that the next generation of younger players will get a better deal...

Finally, the news that Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes has been diagnosed with prostate cancer hits home with this writer; I lost my father to the disease in 1997. My prayers go out to Lopes, at one time a fine player with the Dodgers and now one of the best baserunning teachers in the game. When it comes to stealing bases--and running the bases in general--few men know as much as the insightful Lopes. Get well, Davey.

I can't remember a season in which more brand name free agents remain unsigned as we head into the start of the Grapefruit and Cactus League seasons. With all-time greats like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa in limbo, and serviceable contributors like Kenny Lofton, Kyle Lohse, Corey Patterson, and David Wells still unsigned, there could be some significant free agent activity throughout the month of March...
The Reds have offered Kenny Lofton a minor league deal, but the fleet-footed veteran has been insisting on a major league deal. No other teams have been willing to come up with a guaranteed major league contract, either, so Lofton may have to soften his stance. Otherwise, Lofton could be looking at the end of what has been a well-traveled, but highly productive career as one of the game's best leadoff men...

The Marlins have shown interest in Patterson, but have so far resisted the contractual demands of agent Scott Boras, who wants a two- to three-year deal for the defensive-minded center fielder. With top prospect Cameron Maybin tweaking his hamstring earlier this week, the Marlins may step up efforts to sign Patterson. Even if Maybin is fully healthy, most scouts believe he needs at least another half-season of Triple-A seasoning before he should be trusted with a fulltime major league job...

Lofton and Patterson are currently unemployed, but another center field candidate could be looking at a job transfer very soon. The Rangers continue to shop Marlon Byrd, whom they've offered to the Cubs. So far, the Cubs have only been willing to offer Matt Murton straight-up, and that's not a deal the Rangers want to do. They'd prefer--you guessed it--some young pitching in exchange for Byrd. If traded, Byrd would likely fill Chicago's center field gap for a season, giving Felix Pie another summer of preparation at Triple-A before moving up to the Windy City in 2009...

Kyle Lohse will likely sign with someone soon; he just won't be getting the three- to four-year deal that he was demanding during the off-season. The Mets may make an offer, especially if Orlando Hernandez' bunion continues to prevent him from throwing. The Phillies have some interest in bringing him back, but preferably on a one-year deal. And then there are the Cardinals, who need help everywhere, but especially in the starting rotation...

Mike Piazza has supposedly generated interest from two or three teams, but it's very possible that he will call it quits. His knees won't allow him to catch anymore, while his unwillingness to play first base hurts his versatility. As strictly a DH, Piazza has a very limited market, especially since most American League teams already have their DH spots sewn up. Perhaps the Angels will take a flier on Piazza...

There's no truth to the rumor that Sammy Sosa will be signing with the Royals or the Mets. The rebuilding Royals have already said that they have no interest in the aging right fielder. As for the Mets, they could use a right-handed bat to platoon with Ryan Church, but Sosa's lack of versatility would make it unrealistic to break through the Mets' deep and flexible bench. The Mets would prefer an outfielder/first baseman, one who could platoon with Church while backing up the ailing Carlos Delgado (hip) at first base.