My bucket boy

I had such high hopes for this when I started last year and then it ends up being a year in between my posts. Oh well, life gets in the way sometimes. I have more time now so here we go again.

Molina bashes Halos!
Tell me that wasn't deserved? Bengie has been the catcher for the Angels for as long as anyone in the OC can remember and they just show him the door like that? He may be fat and slow but Bengie had some big hits, a few gold gloves and a brother on the team. He deserved a little more than sorry, no arbitration for you. I guess Arte was too busy in court trying to get the right to call them the Los Angeles Francisco Diego Angels of Anaheim and Mexico instead of worrying about the roster. Has any contender had a worse winter? They lose Washburn, Molina and Byrd, add nobody and expect to hold off OAK and TEX? Dream on.

Is the Rocket grounded?
Will and where the Rocket will play this year is a big question. Red Sox fans might embrace the big traitor and ask him to comeback? The Yanks will offer him enough $$$ for his grandkids to live off of to rejoin them. You also have HOU and TEX battling to keep him in state and on his cushy schedule of doing things on "Roger-time." If he plays, it should be with HOU or he really is one of the WORST examples of free agency and the money grubbing players of now.

M-E-T-S !!!!
Can we outspend the Yanks, I think we can, I think we can! Add Delgado, add LoDuca, add Wagner, lose Anna Benson. Will it be enough? Nah. When does a team like this ever win it all? The Yanks haven't since they started doing this crap in 2001. Money doesn't buy titles. It might get you to the dance but then the more well rounded, better chemistry team will prevail (ie. Red Sox, Angels, White Sox, etc). Heck, the METS can't even be assured of winning their division. I'm sorry but until the Braves lose, the Braves are the favorites. 137 division titles in a row does that to you.

Want some maple syrup, eh?
Can we also outspend the Yanks? Not quite but close. The Jays added Overbay (I love this for fantasy baseball), Glaus, Molina, Burnett and BJ Ryan. Not a bad haul. Glaus can mash in that dome like BigMac used to. Put Burnett with Halladay and that's not a bad pair of aces. Of course they have to stay healthy and that is a HUGE IF. I still think they need more pitching and that will be their downfall unless they add someone else.

Dodgers trade for Tejada and make him a Catcher!
Just kidding. It seems like my Dodgers feel signing a SS to play every offensive position is a good idea. They had Izturis but signed Furcal. When healthy this will shift Izturis to 2B most likely. Then they sign Nomar to play 1B., another great ex-SS and even Mueller the new 3B played some SS in his career. Well, the NL West sucks so this might pay off for LA. Drew could walk after this season so look for him to go 40-120 w/20 SBs and play in 161 games. Same for Nomar since he's on a 1 year and Kent is in his final year. You know these guys will want raises next season so ROID UP and lets mash! SD sucks, oh do they suck. Bad team, bad moves. They have like 13 ex-Dodgers, all past their prime. AZ and COL are just bad and young. That leaves SF and Barry McRoidhead as the only competition. They will be tuff but if Barry can't stay healthy, they have no chance. Look for LA to take it this year.

Welcome back Theo!
The Sox nation missed you like Heath missed Jake in Bareback Mountain. The Sox did Damon like the Halos did Bengie. Would it really hurt for professional teams that decide to pass on one of their own to come out and THANK the guy for his service at least? I can understand not wanting to deal with Boras and bid against yourself but show some love. CF Jesus did help bring a title. He's not worth what the Yanks are paying and I love the Coco pickup but have some class. Beckett was nice too and you stole Loretta for nothing. Look for Loretta to rip up Fenway and be a top 5 2B this year. The Sox need pitching though and Beckett isn't enough. Is Schilling back? How about Foulke? Wells wants out, send him to the Dodgers or something.

If the season started today, here are my picks.
NL West - LA
NL Cent - HOU
NL East - ATL
Wild - CHC

NLCS - LA/HOU with HOU back in the WS.

AL West - OAK
AL Cent - CLE
AL East - NYY
Wild - TOR

ALCS - CLE/OAK with CLE going on. HOU and the Rocket win it all this time.

(I reserve the right to change these completely in a month)