Around the Bases

Sometimes there are too many topics, and to just write about one would be unfair to you all. So here's my version of a baseball Potpourri.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and well-wishes to Jerry Remy. The "Rem-Dawg" as Red Sox Nation knows him is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the booth, due to complications from Cancer Surgery. He went on record saying, "I hope that disclosing my bout with cancer will reinforce that dangers of smoking to every member of Red Sox Nation, especially children." A classy move, from an even classier man. Get well soon. And for all my tobacco wielding readers, think twice before you light up again.

Second, it came to light that on May 7^th Manny Ramirez will be suspended for 50 games due to the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs. In my previous article "Bottom of the Ninth: Where Have All the Heroes Gone?" I professed that Manny is one of the clean players in baseball. Although I'm not completely sold on his guilt (yet), when is all this stuff going to stop? I will have my in depth opinion on this for Monday's blog so if you're interested make sure you check back in. Play baseball for the love of the game, not some macho-man fantasy of being a slugger. If you are meant to break records, you'll break them.

Third, is anyone else noticing what the Royals and Zach Greinke are doing? These guys are for real. Greinke is throwing out of his mind and is already drawing Cy Young talk (6-0, .40 ERA, 54 K's). He ranks number one in the following categories: Wins, Strikeouts, Win %, WHIP, and Complete Games (3). He isn't just beating teams he's shredding their lineups and his changeup is laughing at them as it sails by. The Royals as a whole have power (Gordon, Jacobs, Guillen), speed (Crisp, Dejesus) pitching (Greinke, Bannister, Meche) and a lights-out closer (Soria). Look out baseball, Kansas City is back on the map for the unforeseeable future.

Lastly, if you haven't heard of Steven Strasburg, get to know him. The Nationals have already made it known that they highly covet this righty and intend to sign him at the draft for some astronomical Scott Boras like figure. He is 10-0 for San Diego State University, has a fastball that has hit 102, and has struck out 147 batters in 78.1 IP. Although many uber-prospects have been a bust, something tells me the lowly Nats deserve a break.

Stay Tuned

Ryan