Why You Shouldn't Care that Tommy Hanson Was Sent to the Minors

He won the Arizona Fall League MVP. He dominated major league hitters in Spring Training. But Atlanta pitching phenom Tommy Hanson will start 2009 in the minor leagues.

Don't worry though. This is normal.

With a stacked pitching rotation, and no immediate need to rush Hanson into the majors (remember, he's never pitched above AA ball), the Braves made the right call by leaving him off the roster. Lowe, Vazquez, Jurrjens, Kawakami and Glavine is a stout rotation. Campillo, Reyes and Morton are solid, experienced alternates should Glavine miss some starts (also are great trade bait). No the Braves' real problem is whether they will score runs, not whether the pitching will hold up.

For the first time in a while, the Braves have legitimate pitching depth. With Hanson and Kris Medlen dominating the minor leagues, and the 7+ options at starter at the Major League level, Atlanta finally has an opportunity to return to the form of its 90's dynasty. A clear focus on quality, durable pitching makes them an interesting contender for a playoff spot. GM Frank Wren saw the free agent market and realized that even with a subpar offense, we would get nowhere without a deep pitching staff. Last year we were decimated by injuries, seeing four-fifths of our opening day rotation each miss a significant number of games. Wren is determined to not let that happen again. Glavine gets hurt? Campillo fills in. Kawakami goes down too? Okay call up Hanson, then. Glavine's healthy again? Move Campillo back to the bullpen.

You can never have too many quality arms, and the Braves know that better than anyone. So don't worry too much about Tommy Hanson being sent to the minors. He needs time to develop more control while he works his way up the ladder, anyway. Just be thankful that unlike the Dodgers (rushing Clayton Kershaw) and Yankees (rushing Joba, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, etc.), we actually have the major league pitching depth to give our minor league studs some time to develop. When Hanson and Medlen and the others finally do solidify their spot in the rotation, it will be well worth the wait.

And let's not forget, Tim Hudson is due back in late August.
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WBC is here to stay

In all the other major sports, minus the NFL, the American stars have a chance to wear USA on their uniforms. All I hear about when I watch the NBA is how close Lebron, Kobey, and D-Wade have become since they won gold together at the summer olympics. The NHL stars get to go to the winter games and compete (watch out for the Czech team next winter). But in baseball, the olympics are in the middle of the season, and there was no way MLB teams would let their players compete while they are in the middle of a playoff race. Conversely, futball leagues yield play to the all mighty world cup.

I am not saying that MLB should stop play for the olympics. Well that can't happen anymore because baseball is no longer an olympic sport, which is why we need the WBC. International baseball now has legitamacy with MLB stars. Players who never get a chance to compete for an international crown before, finally get that chance. And, they are making the most of it.

Tell me you didn't almost cry with joy watching (the hated Met) David Wright game winning hit. I hate Wright, like really despise, but I loved him in that moment because he was playing for my team, the USA. It is not only the players, but it is the fans like me, who have also never got that opportunity.

And perhaps the best thing about it, the US is not really the best team. The competition is tough, and victory is far from assured. Every game is tense, or a blow out, and I can't wait for tonights duel against baseball powerhouse Japan. The matchup is a dream, Dice-K and Oswallt. That's something you probably won't get to see this season.

The WBC is here to stay, and I can't wait for the 2013 classic. Although, if I have one suggestion, it needs to be played faster; less days off and more like a baseball series. There should be at most 1 day off for every 5 games. Players get cold, thats why they get hurt. Then they can also finish this thing up before March Maddness starts, and the players can get back to their teams faster and get ramped up for the season.

Other then that. Keep up the good work Selig, and your right this thing is only going to get "bigger and bigger." (source mlb.com)

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Dirty A-Rod

Perhaps this has not been the greatest of off-seasons for Alexander Emmanuel Rodriquez, injuries and a little steriods scandal. Baseball could have done without more steroids-related news, especially from one of its top players.

On this day, things just got a little more interesting for the Yankee third baseman. The New York Daily News is reporting that Alex Rodriquez was supplied call-girls by the same New York madam as former governor Elliot Spitzer. To go even further, Rodriquez successfully went as far as to court the madam, Kristen Davis herself.

"Throughout the years, there were a number of clients that I befriended and it was not uncommon for them to want the women they can't have whether it be the phone bookers or the madam," Davis said. "In regard to Alex, all I can say is our paths have definitely crossed personally and professionally."

If this turns out to be true, this is sure to generate more news in the coming days. One thing we have learned thus far is this gives a whole new spin on the nickname "A-ROD"
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Braves Hold Spring's Best Record, But is it Meaningful?

The Atlanta Braves made a lot of changes over the offseason, from bringing three new starting pitchers to losing John Smoltz. Fans are going to see a different team take the field this summer, but given their performance this spring - it'll be a damn good team.

So far the Braves hold the league's best Spring Training record (12-3). Clutch hitting and stellar pitching performances have paced the new-look Braves to this point, seeming to answer questions as to how this team could win ballgames. At the plate, hitters have focused on driving in runs over driving the ball over the fence. Outfielders Matt Diaz, Brandon Jones and Jeff Francoeur are among the team leaders in RBI, alongside first-base phenom Freddie Freeman. With Chipper at the WBC (and injured) along with McCann, it's been a great testament to the depth of this lineup that they've been able to continue winning without their two best players. The pitching helps too.

While Javier Vazquez mows down hitters as part of a strong Puerto Rican ballclub, newcomers Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami have been proving their worth in a Braves uniform. Lowe's sub-three ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 11 innings have earned him a 2-0 record in three starts. Kawakami, at 2-1, has an ERA under two. Flamethrowing phenom Tommy Hanson has made his push for an opening day spot (which he won't get unless Glavine's injured), striking out more than one batter an inning and sporting a solid 3.38ERA. Combined, our starting pitchers have thrown 54 innings, allowing 17 earned runs (that's a 2.83 ERA) while holding a 39:16 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. These are solid numbers, these are numbers to get excited about. And don't worry, Javy's done pretty well in a Puerto Rican uniform too: 2-0, 0.96 ERA, 1ER and 1BB in 9.1 innings.

It all starts with pitching for the Braves, and it always has. We have good enough bats to spark some rallies, score some runs and keep us alive, as long as the starting pitching can keep it close. So far so good. Is it a great indicator for the season? Not completely, as most spring rosters aren't 100% (especially given the number of players off in the WBC), but its good to see our pitchers throwing with a purpose and a passion to make this a winning franchise once again. They all seem excited for the season, to prove their worth and to take on the league's best players in 2009.
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5 Tips to Help You Win Your Fantasy Draft

Ahhh, can you smell it? The fresh cut grass, the hot dogs grilling, spring is coming and baseball season is here. It smells wonderful. What's that? You don't smell it? Must be because you're stuck in front of your computer playing fantasy baseball! Well don't fret, there's plenty of ways to make the most of your spring and summer indoors. It all begins with the draft: win your draft and you win your league. Take some tips from me, he who's won a regular season title each of the last two years. Some may credit my recent success to an overwhelming amount of time spent researching online, exploiting hot streaks, or negotiating blockbuster trades... but without drafting as well as I did, I wouldn't have stood a chance.

1. Jog Your Memory: Who was that first baseman in Texas last August? What about that Cleveland outfielder who hit .350 down the stretch? Didn't the Dogers call up some hyped-up flamethrower? Can't quite recall the young studs and blue chips who caught your eye at the end of 2008? Well its time to refresh your memory with a few names worth considering: Chris Davis, Shin-Soo Choo, Clayton Kershaw, are just a handful of players to draw interest down the stretch. They'll be cheap picks in the draft, with plenty of upside, and there's players like these all over the league. So did you miss out on Pujols? Morneau? Even Adrian Gonzalez? Don't worry, I'm sure Chris Davis' monster power bat is still available.
2. Don't Think Too Early: Ryan Braun or Ryan Howard? Grady Sizemore or Carlos Beltran? The first two or three rounds might pose such questions, but they rarely require any thought to answer. In the beginning, take the best available player. Don't like Braun or Beltran for any particular reason? Fine, get Howard and Sizemore and move on. Either way you've got 40HR's and a 30/30 guy. Don't waste a first or second round pick on a guy who should be available in the sixth or seventh. Last season someone in one my leagues drafted Jimmy Rollins first overall. Needless to say he did not win the league.
3. Draft Stats You Want: So say you really like hitters who hit lots of home runs, and pitchers who amass a ton of strikeouts - and you could care less about other categories. Then how come you drafted Jose Reyes, Shane Victorino and Chien-Ming Wang? There's plenty of types of players you can use to build a winning team, as long you're consistent in your drafting of them. Don't draft high-average, high-runs for seven rounds and then grab Adam Dunn and Jack Cust because of their homers. You just ruined your team's average anyway, so why bother with the high-average guys to begin with?
4. Know the Positions: Don't get so upset that the top-tier shortstops are all gone after two rounds that you turn around and draft Rafael Furcal in the third round. Bad move. How much better is Rafael Furcal (fantasy-wise) than Jhonny Peralta (likely to get drafted after the 8th round)? Not much. Be aware of positional scarcity going in. There's three outstanding shortstops, maybe four outstanding second basemen, corner infielders are known for their power (so don't settle for a James Loney), and there's hordes of outfielders with 20/20 potential. As long as you don't end up with a 1B who hit ten homers last year, a shortstop who stole 6 bases and zero outfielders who hit 25HR, your roster is probably headed in the right direction.
   
5. Finish the Draft: Its after midnight, most of the other managers have logged off and gone to sleep or to watch Chelsea Lately on E!.. but not you. No you've still got players in your queue, sleeper guys you targeted a month ago who you knew would be available come round 20. Maybe its a veteran coming off injury, or a prospect likely to be called up later in the season, or maybe just a guy who can fill in and give you 20 steals. There's quality picks until the very last round, even if they're not the sexiest. Stay until the end, and you'll be the one laughing when you end up trading your 21st round pick for someone else's 3rd rounder. It happens.

So go prepare yourself, make a list, keep a few notes on under-the-radar guys you want for your team, and most importantly go into the draft with a plan. As long as you draft a well-rounded, balanced roster, you will be competitive this season - I guarantee it!
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Colonel Sanders Haunts Japan

Everyone is familiar with the Curse of the Bambino and the Curse of the Billy Goat. Those are really bad curses. The red sox finally shrugged the babe from their soldiers in 2004, 86 years after they traded their young pitcher for cash. The Billy Goat still haunts the Chicago Cubs, who even when good, seem so ba-a-a-a-ad.

Across the Pacific, our baseball loving friends of Japan have their own curses. Most notably the Curse of the Colonel. In 1985, the Hashin Tigers won their only Japanese baseball championship, thanks in part to their star American player, Rand Bass, whose facial hair was strikingly similar to the chicken toting mascot Colonel Sanders. Enthralled, the fans celebrated their victory by stealing a statue of the Colonel, hoisting it in the air, and promptly throwing it into the river. Woa be to KFC. The Tigers have yet to repeat in the championships blaming their futility on the creator of the original recipe.

Good news is now being reported. Workers have rediscovered the statue, and have hauled it out of it's watery tomb. Has the curse been removed? Will the Tigers finally beat their arch-nemesis, the Giants of Tokyo? Who knows. If the Sox can win two world series, and the ChiSox can win as well after long droughts, then anything is possible.

All I know is that there is one person I don't want rooting against me, and he is the Colonel because that triangle beard and white hair is only a horn or two away from being Satan. And, everyone knows that Satan is a baseball fan. That's why they sacrifice chicken (by eating KFC) to remove curses from error prone gloves (watch Bull Durham if you don't believe me). So thank goodness the Colonel is back on dry land, and who wants to split an 8 piece with me and watch some baseball?

Even npr covered the storey.

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Sports Scenes from Europe, pt 2

The faces on the football (fußball/fussball or soccer) fans were solemn with a quiet focus on what was important. People were not screaming or cursing at the giant projector screens. Hell, they rarely stood up to fetch beer at the bar. Football was on which put everything else on hold.

Today all the teams involved in the Bundesliga were playing. Every city in Germany has a team represented at some level of the Bundesliga with the major cities having the best teams in the highest level. Munich, the rival, is the powerhouse of Germany and even participates in the Champions League. Today, however, we pull for Berlin without exception.

The sports bar in Berlin has a different look and feel to it than what we might find here in America. But there was one peculiar standout in the way the games were broadcasted. In America, a few screens broadcast the major sporting events of that day. In Berlin at this sports bar, ONE screen broadcasts ALL the games simultaneously. Let me explain.

One of the sports channels broadcasts what is translated as “conference programming” whereby all games rotate every few minutes. This keeps viewing the games moving and always exciting. If you have ever complained about football being boring, this is your remedy. Every few minutes a goal is scored in some game. After a goal is announced, the game is immediately switched for all to see. Think of this as a highlight reel in real time. If you wanted to watch just one game, they had those TVs in other rooms.

Later in the week, we went to a local bar to watch the Munich vs Lisbon game for the Champions League. We pulled for Munich this time (think of it as pulling for the SEC in out-of-conference games). Munich finally broke out of its shell with a 5-0 rout over Portugal team. It was a quality ass whooping and entertaining sport.

Criticize soccer all you like, but this is quality sport that is both entertaining and engaging. The talent pool is truly global and when the world gathers next year in South Africa you will see a true World Series. It these reasons which warmed me in Barcelona when every night when you get home, there will always be multiple football match-ups on the tube for your sports enjoyment. The action transcends any cultural or language barrier.


WRudolph is not on assignment but has decided to recount his sports encounters on a recent trip to Barcelona and Berlin.
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Cox Speaks

Braves manager/guru/deity Bobby Cox sat down with Mark Bowman for an interview. It is is a good read, but what is most interesting is this very simple exchange.

MLB.com: What do you like about your new-look pitching staff?

Cox: One of the biggest things for us is how [Peter] Moylan and [Rafael] Soriano bounce back from their elbow surgeries. They are two key pieces in our bullpen. If they throw like we know they can, that's going to really help our starting rotation, because you can cover three easy innings with them and [Mike] Gonzalez. If they are all healthy, that would be a huge plus, because our rotation has a chance to be really good.

Cox was asked about his pitching staff, that includes starters and bullpen, but Cox only talks about the bullpen. This is why he does what he does, and I don't. I was certain Cox would say something about Lowe or Vazquez or Kawakami (i.e., starters), but instead he likes the bullpen. Cox ran his bullpen out there a lot last year, b/c of some bad starting pitching, but Bobby knows that a staff starts from the back forward. If you can't finish a game, then it doesn't matter what happened in the previous 8 or 7 innings. I like this attitude, and I have to agree. If we go Soriano, Moylan and Gonzalez for 7, 8, and 9th inning (and they all stay healthy), we are going to win a lot of games.

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