The Blue Workhorse

In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we take a look at Jeff Francouer hitting two triples as the Braves’ completed the sweep of the Nationals and the Rays’ getting one from the O’s thanks to James Shields returning to ace form:

Yesterday’s Scores:

Atlanta - 8
Washington - 5

Tampa Bay - 11
Baltimore - 3

…more…

The Blue Workhorse 2009 Outlook:
Solid is the best word used to describe the Dodgers.

An above average offense (likely the best in the National League) with speed and power is what the Dodgers have constructed, and they have an above average, seasoned manger steering the boat.

AND…more…including why the Hometown feels…The LA Dodgers WILL win the World Series…

Frank Wren: Put. That coffee. Down!

For the umpteenth time this offseason, the Atlanta Braves and, in particular, Braves’ general manager Frank Wren have been spurned. This time by free agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

After the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s Braves beat writer, Dave O’Brien, wrote that a contract with Griffey was all but done on Tuesday, things evidently fell apart. Griffey then signed a one year, $2 million contract with the Seattle Mariners yesterday.

Now, I am not certain of why Griffey chose to sign with the Mariners over the Braves or even how close a deal with the Braves was to being finalized. However, I do know that there has become a common pattern of the Braves becoming awfully close to finishing deals only for things to completely fall apart (see: Rafael Furcal signing; see: Jake Peavy trade; see: John Smoltz signing; and now see: Ken Griffey Jr. signing).

…more…

Earlier this year, we individually previewed each and every MLB team giving you a team’s record from the 2007 season, key additions and key losses in ‘08, projected starting lineups and pitching rotations, an overall outlook, fantasy impact players, and our prediction for this season.

So were we right?

Well, we got some things right like predicting Josh Hamilton’s huge season, but we also got some things way off like saying the Florida Marlins would be the laughing stock of the league.

What did we get right? What did we get wrong? This week we’ll start in the National League with the NL East:

Mets, Phils, or Braves: NL East Preview (March 6, 2008)

…more…

Juan Pierre was in the box hitting — the same Juan Pierre who hasn’t hit a home run since September 2006. Needless to say, I wasn’t on the edge of the rail waiting for him to hit a bomb, but I was still paying attention nonetheless. Lo and behold, Pierre hits a line drive straight toward where I was positioned. At first I thought it was going to fly over my head, and I prepped myself to make a jumping attempt, but instead, it raised my glove just a bit above eye level, and the ball traveled directly into it.

I couldn’t believe it had come right to me. I pulled down my glove, took the ball out, and immediately handed it to the second young brother, who had seen his brother get a ball and had been standing out in the outfield with his father for nearly as long as I had (despite his parents asking him a couple of times if he’d rather go play in the kids zone or go shopping in one of the souvenir shops). I never thought I would give up the first batted ball I ever caught at a major league stadium, but without thinking, I had done exactly that.

Opening Day is one of the most glorious days in sports, despite the fact that MLB tried to ruin it by having an opening series in Japan and then by having a one game series (yea, that’s not even possible Major League Baseball - a series means multiple) in Washington.

Now that all the teams and players have each put on the uniform for the first official games of the season, and to honor the first true day of the MLB schedule, we make initial observations on every team about what we saw on Opening Day after watching some games and examining boxscores:

This year the battle could be just as highly contested as only the San Francisco Giants won’t bring a high-caliber team to the field each and every day. Arizona won the division last season but went out and made some huge trades. Colorado rode a late season hot streak all the way to the World Series. San Diego is determined to return to the playoffs after losing their last three games cost them a trip last season, and the Dodgers are looking to end one of the longest World Series droughts in the franchise’s storied history.

Here are our previews and predictions for all five NL West teams including last year’s records, key additions, key losses, projected starting lineup, projected rotation, overall outlook, fantasy impact players, and our prediction for this season: