2008 Woodie Awards
New Major League Baseball season to be filled with milestones and storylines
By: Cody Fields
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Sports
Cody Fields
Sports Editor
My nose is congested and my eyes itch, which must mean it's time for baseball. In a season that is sure to memorable, here are a few things to keep an eye on as the year unfolds.
1) Barry Bonds' quest for 755
The aging Giants' leftfielder is only 22 homers away from breaking Hank Aaron's Major League record of career homeruns. With steroid allegations flying around and his trainer Greg Anderson in prison for refusing to honor a subpoena to testify on the BALCO case, the former Pittsburgh Pirate turned into a true San Francisco Giant has become the face of the juiced ball era. At 42, Bonds' durability will be called into question, especially if his knee problems that limited him to 14 games in 2005 flare up again.
2) Tony LaRussa - St. Louis Cardinals, manager
The usually classy manager for the equally usually classy organization was arrested for DUI in Jupiter, Fla., on March 22. Though LaRussa has apologized and called the incident an "embarrassment" and the team has stated that it will remain supportive.
One can only wonder how big of a distraction this can turn into as the Cards prepare to defend their 2006 World Series title. The Cardinals were streaky enough last season and compiled the worst record (83-78) of any World Series champion, but with the likes of Albert Pujols and company, I wonder if they even need a manager.
3) Daisuke Matsuzaka - Boston Red Sox, starting pitcher
The Red Sox paid Matsuzaka's former Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Seibu Lions, $52 million just to talk to this guy, so everyone, especially Boston manager Terry Francona is really hoping he works out. According to si.com, Dice-K can consistently throw eight different pitches for strikes, including a 96 m.p.h. fastball and a change up with a screwball-like break to it.
The only problem many fear of Dice-K's transition to the Major Leagues is that he may throw too many strikes. The Japanese league is not renowned for the long ball like the American game, and too many strikes could mean the power hitting American players could go yard on him often. This spring, he's compiled a miniscule 2.04 ERA, but what happens in the spring isn't always a reliable indicator for the regular season.
4) Atlanta Braves
The Braves had their major professional sport record of 14 consecutive division titles snapped last year as their record was under .500 for the first time since 1990. The Braves, who ranked dead last in bullpen ERA last year, traded for relievers Mike Gonzalez from the Pirates, Rafael Soriano from Seattle and signed former White Sox reliever Tanyon Sturtze to a one-year deal as he attempts a comeback from rotator cuff surgery.
Starting pitcher Mike Hampton is scheduled to return in May after missing all of 2006 due to Tommy John surgery, and he should compliment John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Chuck James nicely in the starting rotation. Atlanta was second in the National League in runs scored last year, so a hopefully healthy Chipper Jones with the durable perennial Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones combined with solid pitching should project the Braves into another streak of division titles.
You may have noticed that new TV shows don't come out in the summer; that's probably because America's Pastime is on every night. If you've never done yourself the favor, go ahead and start watching this year; it should be one of the more entertaining seasons in recent years.
Sports Editor
My nose is congested and my eyes itch, which must mean it's time for baseball. In a season that is sure to memorable, here are a few things to keep an eye on as the year unfolds.
1) Barry Bonds' quest for 755
The aging Giants' leftfielder is only 22 homers away from breaking Hank Aaron's Major League record of career homeruns. With steroid allegations flying around and his trainer Greg Anderson in prison for refusing to honor a subpoena to testify on the BALCO case, the former Pittsburgh Pirate turned into a true San Francisco Giant has become the face of the juiced ball era. At 42, Bonds' durability will be called into question, especially if his knee problems that limited him to 14 games in 2005 flare up again.
2) Tony LaRussa - St. Louis Cardinals, manager
The usually classy manager for the equally usually classy organization was arrested for DUI in Jupiter, Fla., on March 22. Though LaRussa has apologized and called the incident an "embarrassment" and the team has stated that it will remain supportive.
One can only wonder how big of a distraction this can turn into as the Cards prepare to defend their 2006 World Series title. The Cardinals were streaky enough last season and compiled the worst record (83-78) of any World Series champion, but with the likes of Albert Pujols and company, I wonder if they even need a manager.
3) Daisuke Matsuzaka - Boston Red Sox, starting pitcher
The Red Sox paid Matsuzaka's former Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Seibu Lions, $52 million just to talk to this guy, so everyone, especially Boston manager Terry Francona is really hoping he works out. According to si.com, Dice-K can consistently throw eight different pitches for strikes, including a 96 m.p.h. fastball and a change up with a screwball-like break to it.
The only problem many fear of Dice-K's transition to the Major Leagues is that he may throw too many strikes. The Japanese league is not renowned for the long ball like the American game, and too many strikes could mean the power hitting American players could go yard on him often. This spring, he's compiled a miniscule 2.04 ERA, but what happens in the spring isn't always a reliable indicator for the regular season.
4) Atlanta Braves
The Braves had their major professional sport record of 14 consecutive division titles snapped last year as their record was under .500 for the first time since 1990. The Braves, who ranked dead last in bullpen ERA last year, traded for relievers Mike Gonzalez from the Pirates, Rafael Soriano from Seattle and signed former White Sox reliever Tanyon Sturtze to a one-year deal as he attempts a comeback from rotator cuff surgery.
Starting pitcher Mike Hampton is scheduled to return in May after missing all of 2006 due to Tommy John surgery, and he should compliment John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Chuck James nicely in the starting rotation. Atlanta was second in the National League in runs scored last year, so a hopefully healthy Chipper Jones with the durable perennial Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones combined with solid pitching should project the Braves into another streak of division titles.
You may have noticed that new TV shows don't come out in the summer; that's probably because America's Pastime is on every night. If you've never done yourself the favor, go ahead and start watching this year; it should be one of the more entertaining seasons in recent years.
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