Camden Chat

Extensions, etc.

2009-01-08T01:16:11Z

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles107,0,425492.story

Warehouse vs Roberts:

Orioles have offered a multi-year deal worth about $10 million per season, but the sides are still significantly apart in terms of both years and money.

The article goes on to quote Andy asserting that he has had no trade talks regarding Roberts in over a month and that he is focused on the free agent market, trying to feel needs without giving up the team's existing talent assets.

Warehouse vs Markakis:

Both sides would like to get a multi-year deal secured this year. An industry source confirmed that the Orioles offered Markakis a six-year, $60 million deal earlier this winter and, at the time, the sides were believed to be about $10 million apart.

Nick's agent says discussions were tabled in December to see how the market trend evolved.

Warehouse vs My Heart

At this time, the club does not appear interested in re-signing veteran Kevin Millar...

Instead they are pursuing such exciting targets as Rocco Baldelli, Ty Wiggington and Camden Chat Fan Favorite, Richie Sexton.

Orioles Warehouse Magic, feel it happen.

The Orioles announced today that single-game tickets for 2009 home games will go on sale at 10 a.m....

2009-01-07T22:45:04Z

The Orioles announced today that single-game tickets for 2009 home games will go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 17.

Tickets can be purchased online at orioles.com and by phone at 1-888-848-BIRD.

O's single-game tickets on sale Jan. 17 -- baltimoresun.com

Tex Says, "the Yankees were always the top [choice]."

2009-01-07T14:09:04Z

via f3.yahoofs.com

Blame the wife! Turncoat! Turncoat!

I know I'm beating a dead horse into the ground here, but this is the last of it from me on the Tex issue, just some good insight into the bargaining process before the holidays.

According to the Boston Globe, Tex's wife, Leigh, convinced him the Yanks were the way to go:

"Two weeks before Christmas, I talked to [my wife] Leigh about it again, and we kind of decided that, hey, the Yankees are where we want to be. Cash [Brian Cashman] might want to give Leigh a hug, because when I asked her during the process, 'Where should I go, where should I go?,' she'd always say, 'I just want you to be happy.' Finally she said, 'I want you to be a Yankee,' and it was a done deal."

But we can't let him scapegoat her that much, because the 'life-long Orioles fan' also laid down this gem for the NYY glitterati:

"My dad would take me to O's games and I'd wear a Yankees hat, which wasn't too safe in Baltimore back in the '80s. But it was worth it. There's something about being a Yankee, no where you are there are Yankees fans, and I'm glad to be a Yankee today."

Oh, it continues: "In my mind, the Yankees were always the top."

The best quote from Boras: "Obviously, in my business, you're either called a shopper or a puffer; one of the two, you're going to be labeled with. "

I think it's safe to call him both.

UPDATE: Revised so you can witness Leigh Teixeira's input on the matter.

Koji Uehara, the newest Oriole.

2009-01-07T02:59:01Z

Koji Uehara, the newest Oriole.

Sources: O's, Uehara agree on two-year deal

2009-01-06T22:16:35Z

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles0106,0,2908949.story

Seems like a solid move to me. He's the first Japanese signing by the O's, which should help in the future. Now players and fans in Japan should become more familiar with the O's. He also makes a decent stop gap in the rotation until some of our prospects are ready. Once they are he could move to the bullpen. I like this move alot. What does everyone else think?

Mike Flanagan was executive vice president of baseball operations until his contract expired at the...

2009-01-06T18:02:51Z

Mike Flanagan was executive vice president of baseball operations until his contract expired at the end of the year, so it's fair to ask what he's going to be doing now. It's also fair to ask what exactly his role has been for the past year or so.

Nobody is willing to say anything publicly about this apparently sensitive situation, but sources have been telling us for a couple of months now that Flanny probably will return to the broadcast booth. Calls to Mike by O's baseball guys Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly have not been returned, but sources said he's expected to meet with John Angelos soon to discuss new duties with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Flanagan's future (probably in the broadcast booth)

The Original Orioles 1893

2009-01-06T17:55:21Z

60 feet 6 inches, that is how far they put the mound from the plate in 1893 and that is where it has stayed ever since. Sure, they have lowered it and raised it but the distance is still the same. This season they also did away with the pitchers box and put in a white rubber plate 12 inches long and 4 inches wide. Rule changes were brought into being for pitchers that are still in effect to this day. The game had brought its pitchers into the modern era.

The split season was done, thank goodness, so that now for this season the NL Pennant winner was the NL Champion. At the end of this season that would again change.... in a way that Baseball to this day must wonder what those in charge were thinking.

More pieces of the puzzle were coming together for the Orioles this year with the arrival of several more players who were to make Baltimore the terror of the NL But, the growing pains were still working themselves out as Ned Hanlon led the Orioles at Union Park. The Orioles went 60-70 .462 -26.5 in 8th out of 12 places in the NL.

The Orioles this year had the following record against the rest of the NL:

Boston 2-10, Pittsburgh 1-11, Cleveland 8-4, Philadelphia 5-7, New York 4-8, Brooklyn 10-2, Cincinnati 4-8, Chicago 5-7, St. Louis 9-3, Louisville 5-5 and Washington 7-5. So, while the Orioles could clearly compete with the league as a whole they were creamed by Boston and Pittsburgh the two best teams of the NL.

The Orioles as a team hit .275 which was 7th in the League and the team ERA was 4.97 which was 10th. The hightlight of 1893 was on August 16th when Bill Hawke no hit the Washington Nationals 5-0.

Wilbert Robinson led the team with a .334 BA. Heinie Reitz 2b led the team with 130 G, 76 RBI (tied with Joe Kelley CF), Joe Kelley CF also led the team with 9 HR, 16 3B, 27 2B, and a .476 SA. John McGraw SS was the O's leader with 154 H, 101 BB and 38 SB. Billy Shindle 3b led the club with 521 AB.

On the pitching side Sadie McMahon continued to be the team ace leading the team in W and L with 23-18, 79 Ks, 40 GS, 346.3 IP, 43 G, 4.37 ERA. Billy Hawke's no-hitter was the only shutout this year for the Orioles.

While not a good year this was the turning point for the Orioles. In the spring the final pieces would show up for the Orioles, especially in the persons of Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings and Dan Brouthers who would help the Birds to soar.

But, in the meantime the Oriole fans had no idea of what was about to happen and the NL was unaware at what was about to be unleashed upon them. But, they were about to experience something never seen before in baseball. This team would beat you in any way possible through hitting, fielding, pitching, great base running, agressiveness not only in play but in all ways pertaining to the game, bullying, breaking rules, using rules to create runs, badgering umpires into submission, intimidating the opposition and just plain running roughshod over the rest of the League in any way possible with no mercy given to anyone. Yes, the NL was about to be sacked, rampaged and pillaged by a team of rough and colorful characters who together would become a legend that to this day draws respect and awe from fans who know their baseball history.

Many rules would come into effect to counter the Orioles and their brilliant innovations. Umpires would experience fear, opposing teams would be intimidated or get so angry they would blow plays and the Baltimore fans would have the times of their lives watching the Birds lay ruin rest of the League. But, who would have known that as winter set in during late 1893 and people sat around the Hot Stove talking about baseball.

Wieters praised again by Keith Law

2009-01-06T09:48:37Z

From the ESPN '09 "watch list":

TOP ROOKIE
Matt Wieters, C, Orioles

Wieters draws comparisons to two players: Joe Mauer and Mark Teixeira, who are two of the top hitters in the American League. Mauer has posted MVP-caliber campaigns in two of the past three years.

Who is Wieters to earn such praise before ever playing a big league game? He's a switch-hitter with quick wrists, power to all fields and a great eye at the plate -- all of which are traits he has in common with Teixeira, who, like Wieters, played at Georgia Tech. And like Mauer, Wieters is a catcher with a plus arm -- he also pitched in relief with the Ramblin' Wreck and would routinely sit at 92-93 mph. He's the best prospect in baseball right now, and should be in the majors this spring, perhaps as early as Opening Day.
-- Keith Law

Sure, it's definitely snowballed into "I'm not telling you anything you don't already know" territory, but it remains super exciting to keep hearing such ridiculous praise heaped upon an Oriole.

Chitter chatter

2009-01-05T20:34:55Z

According to raygu at faketeams, Leigh Hacksaw Hamilton said on his XM radio show that the Orioles are interested in Andruw Jones, who is available for a paltry $500k. This sounds like someone trying to use the O's to make a player look more attractive, as I can't see any reason on earth we'd want another fourth outfielder, one who didn't hit over the Mendoza line in 75 games before he got injured last year.
Roch says that the Greg Zaun talks continue, but that Zaun is looking for a two-year deal. I can't see any reason on earth why we'd want Zaun for two years, either.
O's Spring Training tickets go on sale Saturday. Get your early view of Matt Wieters while you can!

Thoughts on a potential Roberts-for-Floyd, etc. package

2009-01-03T16:42:13Z

Since the rumors are rolling, and I think this one seems more legit than most, I've got a feeling this really could be the one Big Offseason Move the O's take part in.

Yes, Virginia, that means Ramon Hernandez-for-Ryan Freel does not count as a "big move."

Roch's idea to pick up Chris Getz along with Gavin Floyd is a very good one, and as he reported, one that makes a lot of sense. I'm not the world's biggest Ryan Freel fan, but he does have a lot of value as a guy that can fill in anywhere, get on base OK, and run. And even if Getz (who could maybe play in the majors right now) didn't work out at all, you might lose some value from what he can do, but Freel can play second every day.

Brian Roberts isn't going to be here for the long haul. I'm in the minority that says we should try to keep him, because I think he'll age very well. He takes walks and runs -- those guys hold off Father Time fairly nicely. But it's not realistic, probably, so should he be traded, this is the type of deal that sounds good.

Gavin Floyd is still a minor wild card, but I don't think that's a huge deal. I could be wrong, of course, but Floyd was 25 last season and had a very nice year. Floyd's 2008 (3.84/1.26, 119 ERA+, 206.3 innings, 119 ERA+) was on par with Guthrie, and those two would make a nice 1-2 punch for '09 and beyond.

The worry that Floyd tanked so badly in Philadelphia doesn't really concern me. He was young, the pressure was huge (don't forget he was a hyped prospect), and it happens. The change of scenery served him nicely, and we know he can pitch in the American League. Plus he's got years to get even better than he is now. He still has a lot of upside.

I'd hate to see Brian Roberts go. I really would. He's on the short list of my absolute favorite players in baseball, and the thing is, I think he'd be one of my favorite players no matter what team he was on. I just flat-out like watching Brian play.

I think the White Sox would be a super fit for Roberts, as he would provide them with a hell of a leadoff man to get set the table for Quentin and Dye and Thome.

He'd also go over like gangbusters with White Sox fans, who love their "grinders." Brian's an actual grinder, in that he plays hard every day and gets dirty about 75 percent of those days, and he's also actually good. He's a hustle machine, but he's also an All-Star caliber player.

It kind of has to happen, doesn't it? Those midseason rental trades aren't bringing a ton back anymore, so if we're going to keep thinking we should move him, now's the time to do it. Floyd is a real talent, and anything in addition could be gravy. Andy's two big trades (Tejada to Houston, Bedard to Seattle) haven't let us down. I won't lie and say I've been a fan of our offseason, but this would be, in my view, a good way to head into spring training. At least we'd have 40 percent of a rotation.

Roberts to the Chicago...White Sox?!

2009-01-03T01:36:57Z

Roch is reporting that the Os might be working on a trade with the White Sox for Gavin Floyd and, possibly, another prospect. This is the kind of deal I've been waiting to hear about. Something believable. Much of the Olson to the Cubs for Pie or whomever really didn't make much sense as the Os would be giving up on a young starter who could still turn it around for a failed prospect or two. It just never made sense. Floyd, however, makes perfect sense. With spots in the rotation open, and Floyd a solid #2 or 3, this just works.

Yes, there's going to be a hole at second, but that's where Freel fits in. The guy can lead off and play second much of the time, with perhaps Murphy or another guy taking over if that doesn't work. So, that hole's not so much a hole as it is a stop gap.

There's going to be much assuming that the White Sox could package Floyd, from Mount St. Joe and a 17-game winner last season, and either Brandon Allen (1B) or Chris Getz (2B). I'm fine with either, and think that trading Roberts for Floyd, straight up, doesn't make much sense for the Os.

What say ye, CC?

Update:
Roch has just explained his rational for believing this trade will take place and the logic behind the Os going after bot Floyd and Getz.

The Original Orioles 1892

2009-01-01T13:59:34Z

1892 started with the American Association dead and gone and several AA teams merged into the NL. One of these teams was the Original Baltimore Orioles. How would they do in their first year in the NL? What they faced was a stronger NL for the teams that folded had let their talent go so it only strengthened the level of play in the League with less teams vying for the talent available.

However, on the plus side the Orioles would not just have one chance during the year for a pennant, but two! This year the League divided its season into a first half and a second half. The idea was the first half winner would play the second half winner for the League title. What would happen if a team won both halves? Well, no one seemed to have thought of that, but it all worked out anyways.

The manager this year was not Billy Barnie, but rather George Van Haltren, then John Waltz and finally Ned Hanlon. The arrival of Ned Hanlon brought the O's the manager who would forge the team into the dynasty that was to come. Another piece had come to the puzzle although one would be hard pressed to see it at the time with the season the Birds had this year.

One of Hanlon's first move was to trade for Joe Kelley who was to be another vital part of the coming Orioles powerhouse. While the O's did struggle this year, in both halves, they proved to be an exciting team and their biggest highlight of the year came against St. Louis winning the first game 25-4 and the second game of the doubleheader 9-3. They had 44 hits in the two games and Wilbert Robinson went 7 for 7 in the first game of the DH.

In the first half the O's finished 20-55 .267 -32.5 in 12th (last) place. The second half saw a slight improvement with the Birds going 26-46 .361 -25 in 10th place. For the total season standings the Orioles were 46-101 .313 -54.5 in 12th place. So, the Orioles finished in last 2 out of 3 possible times this year. I'm glad they didn't continue the split seasons! Imagine the confusion through discussing a team of the same year as two different seasons! A good idea gone wrong if ya ask me!

The Orioles seasonal record this year versus the reast of the League was as follows:

Boston Beaneaters 0-13, Cleveland Spiders 2-11, Brooklyn Bridegrooms 2-12, Philadelphia Phillies 4-10, Cincinnati Reds 4-10, Pittsburgh Pirates 5-9, Chicago Colts 4-7, New York Giants 5-9, Louisville Colonels 6-7, Washington Nationals 6-7 and St. Louis Browns 8-6.

As a team this year the Orioles had a BA of .253 (4th in the NL) and a ERA of 4.28 (last in the NL). Basically a good hitting, no pitching team the Orioles fielded this year.

George Van Haltren, RF, led the Orioles this year in; BA .302, Hits 168, Runs 105, Doubles 20 (tied with Billy Shindle), Homers 7, RBIs 57 (tied with Wilbert Robinson), BB 70, SB 49, SA .419, BB 70. Billy Shindle, 3b, led the team with 18 Triples.

In pitching the Ace was Sadie McMahon led the team in IP with 397, CG 44, Wins 20, Shoutouts 2, and a 3.24 ERA. George Cobb led the team in Games 53, GS 47, 159 Ks and a league leading 37 losses.

A bad start for the Orioles in the NL this season, but very few people could see (and who could blame them?) that the rise of the Orioles was soon to begin. 1893 saw changes come to the game that we take for granted today and saw changes in the Orioles that would in the span of one season bring the Birds to a soaring height that no one could have envisioned at the end of the 1892 season.

The Orioles officially added a veteran pitcher to their 40-man roster today, announcing that lefty...

2008-12-31T19:28:53Z

The Orioles officially added a veteran pitcher to their 40-man roster today, announcing that lefty Mark Hendrickson passed his physical and has agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million.

It could increase to $2 million in 2009 if he reaches certain incentives for games pitched and started.

Hendrickson, 34, has a 50-63 record and a 5.07 ERA over parts of seven seasons. He went 7-8 in 2008 with a 5.45 ERA in 36 games (19 starts) for the Florida Marlins.

The Orioles, who are looking to add at least two starters, value Hendrickson's versatility and like him best as a long reliever and spot starter. However, he could get an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation behind Jeremy Guthrie.

Orioles, Hendrickson agree to one-year deal -- baltimoresun.com

Orioles: Sexson an option at 1B?

2008-12-31T03:28:08Z

Orioles: Sexson an option at 1B?

ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?

Seriously, I'm trying to be patient. I'm trying to have faith. But if the Baltimore Orioles sign Richie effing Sexton I am going to vomit on Andy MacPhail first chance I get.

Red Sox sign Brad Penny

2008-12-30T06:06:30Z

From Yahoo:

The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Brad Penny reached a preliminary agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, according to several reports Monday.
The team also struck a tentative agreement with catcher Josh Bard and both deals are pending physicals, the reports said.

Cheap and one season removed from being one of the National League's most effective pitchers. Meanwhile we fart about with the likes of Mark Hendrickson.

The Orioles are close to reaching an agreement with free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson, and an...

2008-12-29T03:41:41Z

The Orioles are close to reaching an agreement with free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson, and an annoucement could be made early this week pending the results of a physical.

Hendrickson would be joining his fifth organization since breaking into the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002. The 6-foot-9 left-hander is 50-63 with a 5.07 ERA in 215 career games. He was 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA with the Florida Marlins this season.

- MASNsports.com

O's considering Pudge Rodriguez

2008-12-28T04:46:28Z

From Peter Schmuck:

Former Oriole Gregg Zaun remains the free-agent catcher most likely to end up in the Orioles lineup on Opening Day, but there have been conversations with agent Scott Boras about veteran Ivan Rodriguez (left). Whether he would be a good fit to mentor Matt Wieters and eventually step aside for the O's top minor league prospect has been a subject of some discussion in the O's front office.

Schmuck considers the idea that if Wieters comes up mid-season, it would "create an uncomfortable situation." Frankly, I don't care. Pudge Rodriguez is 37 years old and can't hit much anymore, so if he were to have a hissy when Wieters took "his job," then oh well, trade him or waive him. It wouldn't be the biggest deal in the world, and Pudge's defensive reputation is well-earned. He'd be a great fit for what promises to be a crap pitching staff. I do worry Trembley would hit him in the middle of the order on name value.

He doesn't make mean faces quite as well as Gregg Zaun, nor is he related to Rick Dempsey (have you heard?), nor will he be totally dirt cheap. You pay for quality, I reckon, and it sort of reminds me of soda. Why go for Sam's Choice when for a little bit more you can get some RC?

With Ramon Hernandez gone, there's no catcher in this system that belongs starting in the Major Leagues besides Wieters, and they probably want to be cool about his advancement. Be it Pudge or Zaun, it's not a bad idea. Just keep Rick Dempsey away from me if we get Zaun.

Giants sign Unit to one-year deal

2008-12-27T22:39:16Z

From the AP:

Johnson and the Giants agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract Friday, meaning the 45-year-old pitcher will go for his 300th win with a new team — and back home in the Bay Area to boot.
Johnson, a 21-year big league veteran who spent the past two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was born in Walnut Creek, Calif., about 30 minutes from the Giants' waterfront ballpark. He grew up in nearby Livermore.

Johnson is five wins away from No. 300 and assured immortality in Cooperstown, though realistically it should've been clinched years ago.

I would've been OK with the O's taking a stab at Johnson. He made 30 starts last year, we could've gotten An Historic Moment in 2009 (though the last time we got one, it turned sour pretty fast), and we're talking about Mark Hendrickson and Danys Baez starting next season. You do need bodies, and RJ is a lot better than everyone we've got lined up except for Guthrie.

Still, you can't argue with where he's going. He knows the NL West, he's close to home, he got a decent one-year deal (I'd have been willing to go up to $9.5 mil or so), and he's old. But the Giants are no more going to contend than we are, so certainly winning wasn't a huge deal to him.

I figure chances are this'll be Johnson's final go-round unless something miraculous happens. It keeps freaking me out that all these great players from my youth are dropping like flies. My two favorite pitchers (Maddux and Mussina) both called it quits this offseason. I'm much too young to feel this damn old.

2009 First Base: It's fan-tastic!

2008-12-27T02:56:44Z

Sun via Yahoo:

Pitching and catching remain the biggest needs for the Baltimore Orioles, but there are some questions to be answered at first base as well according to the Baltimore Sun.
The club could install Aubrey Huff, who started 23 games at first last year, as the team's everyday first baseman. They also have had trade discussions to fill the vacancy, with the Texas Rangers' Hank Blalock among their targets. Kevin Millar, their everyday first baseman last season, Eric Hinske, Doug Mientkiewicz and Sean Casey are among the free-agent options. Slugger Adam Dunn, who has hit 40 or more home runs for five straight seasons, is also a free-agent option, though his price would probably have to come down significantly for the Orioles to get involved in the bidding.

"We did not allow this to sidetrack our other endeavors," MacPhail said. "We're focusing on our pitching and catching primarily at this point."

Pitching = Mark Hendrickson

Catching = totally unimportant, find someone that can handle the position defensively and hopefully hit his weight until you bring Wieters up

It disgusts me that we're talking about Kevin Millar (.234/.323/.394), Hank Blalock (.287/.338/.508 in 65 games), Eric Hinske (.247/.333/.465), Doug f***ing Mientkiewicz (.277/.374/.379 in 225 AB) and Sean motherf***ing Casey (.322/.381/.392 in 199 AB) as everyday first base options for 2009, while we say that Adam Dunn (.236/.386/.513, and healthy as a horse every single year) is "too expensive" in a butt ugly free agent market where he's really not that pricey at all.

It's astounding the lack of progress we're making on the free agent front. The eggs are almost entirely in the farm system basket -- we're counting on ALL of these guys to pan out, basically, if this is the sort of free agent player the O's are going to be under MacPhail. The offer to Teixeira was a joke -- let's call a spade a spade there. They put in an offer and never budged on it for the sake of a public that was in love with the idea of Maryland-born Mark Teixeira coming to crack the code and save us. We were never in the running. The Royals could've made the same offer if they'd felt like it.

I know you have to patch holes, but you'll have to forgive me if I don't have a firm belief in ANY front office at the Warehouse. I'm trusting Andy MacPhail, but it's a cautious trust. The problem I'm seeing is this division is not going to get worse any time soon. The Yankees are going to make a load of money every year and spend it on the team. The Red Sox develop and spend at the same time, and do both quite effectively. The Rays have a lot of years left on that team, probably, and a front four of Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields and David Price could be terrifying for many, many seasons.

2009 is another fifth place finish. We all know that. And I've said before that saying rebuilding is OK is one thing -- watching rebuilding happen, the struggle of it all and the seemingly futile daily grind, is another thing entirely. It wasn't pretty to watch after a while last year. It won't be pretty this year, either.

What past that? These young players (Jones, Wieters, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta especially) have to work out. If they don't, then a whole lot of other guys who are worse bets at becoming impact players have to work out. That's hard, man. And if the team doesn't win or doesn't expand its budget, free agents still aren't going to come here.

I've had this feeling burrowing in my gut for this entire offseason. I don't really like the direction we're headed, and it's not even so much the direction or MacPhail's vision. Developing young talent is not THE ONLY THING that has to drastically change under Dandy Andy's watch. The buck doesn't stop there. If the franchise thinks it does, another decade of this mess is on the horizon.

Yeah, I know.

Youkilis commits to Team USA, Sosa will work 4 millions of dollars

2008-12-26T18:55:41Z

ESPN.com says that Kevin Youkilis is the newest of relatively few players to take up arms for Team USA in the upcoming 2009 World Baseball Classic. Boston teammate and AL MVP Dustin Pedroia was the last to commit, if I recall.

ESPN says that Youkilis, Pedroia, Derek Jeter, David Wright, Chipper Jones, John Lackey, Brian McCann and Grady Sizemore have also signed on, though you can expect at least one of those to drop out by the time the rosters are officially set.

Davey Johnson's going to have a hell of a time, really. The first WBC saw the Americans pretty well embarrassed, including a loss to Canada, and the word back in '06 was that the next time out, some of our proud American ballplayers might step up and compete for national pride or whatever it is they're competing for in the WBC. Instead, A-Rod took his purse-slapping and purple lips and old woman fetish to the Dominican team.

Also, if you were waiting, it's that time of year where Sammy Sosa wonders aloud why no one's knocking his door down.

"Those who saw me training know that I'm hitting the ball with the usual authority. I just hope to get the chance to prove that I'm still a threat," said Sosa at a charity event sponsored by his foundation.

I remember the olden days, when Mr. Sosa's English was so patchy he had to bring a translator to Washington with him. Baseball been berry berry goo to he. It's so reeeeaaaal.