Is Griffey Done?

When Griffey was in his prime, he was one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball...Now, I don't think you can make the argument that his bat is as potent as it used to be.

Don't get me wrong, I can't tell you how much I admire Griffey as a player. He has been a class act and a great role model for the young people throughout the world but I think its time to hang up the spikes Ken.

Griffey hit 30 homers in '07 and 18 in '08 so I know there is some pop left in that bat of his but I just don't know how much. My lone concern with him going back to Seattle is his health. Griff has suffered from numerous injuries in the past seven years and I just don't want to see him exit the game on a bad note.

Guys like Barry Sanders and Tiki Barber retired when things were going great in their careers and they didn't have to live with the scrutiny of staying in their respected sports longer then they should have.

Griffey, I wish you the best in Seattle...I hope you belt 30 homers this year and drive in 100 runs...But I just hope you stay injury free and healthy for a whole season and not let the media criticize you for being past your prime.

Things Just Keep Getting Worse for A-Roid

A-Rod, I have some simple words of advice... When you come clean for doing PED's, you better tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God.

According to the Daily News in New York, A-Rod has been linked to former Major League Clubhouse attendant Angel Presinal who was banned from baseball back in 2001 for leaving an unmarked gym bag full of steroids at a local airport in Toronto, Canada.

Now you might be asking yourself, "What does this all mean?', and I am here to try and clarify that for you. If you believed A-Rod's apology earlier this week than you must be one of those cats who gets played by your woman and then takes her back after her tear filled apology. Face it, Rodriguez is guilty of steroid use and he made a less than truthful apology because everyone found out he used needles in the butt to hit some extra homers. That's it. The only reason why a press conference was held in Florida earlier this week was for A-Rod to come clean because one of the most popular and respected writers from Sports Illustrated spilled the beans on New York's best Bronx Bomber.

A-Rod stated that he hasn't done the PED's since his time with the Rangers, but why did a source say that A-Rod was hanging out with his steroid buddy (Presinal) last fall? Don't get me wrong, I like A-Rod...but I like him as a player, not as a man. If you are going to be a man and own up to your mistakes, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

JB

No Pudge Behind the Plate for Houston

Rumors of Ivan Rodriguez potentially signing with the Houston Astros have been squashed as Houston General Manager Ed Wade stated today in an article on MLB.com that the future Hall of Fame backstop is not in the Astros plans for the 2009 season. "We're not signing Pudge," said Wade. "Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge." (Astros Beat Writer Alyson Footer broke the story as it developed.)

It looks like the Astros will be relying on J.R. Towles and Humberto Quintero to battle it out for the starting catchers spot going into the regular season. Also, veteran Toby Hall is in the mix for the position but Hall is battling a right shoulder problem that could eliminate him from getting the starting nod.

Pudge would have been a nice addition to the bottom of the lineup but there is no use crying over spilt milk. Let your voice be heard! Leave your mark!

JB

Rumors of Pudge Joining the Astros

According to reports this past Sunday, Pudge Rodriguez narrowed his choices of teams he is interested in playing for down to three with the Astros being on that short list. I am not going to try and sit here and over analyze the situation but I think it needs to be addressed.

When I heard about these rumors, my first reaction was "I do not want him in an Astros uniform. Thats just what we need is another old guy setting up behind the dish that is clearly on the down side of his career." Well now that I have had the time to regain my thoughts on the situation, I think that it might be a good move for the Astros. Lets crunch the numbers...

Rodriguez last season hit .276/.319/.394 with seven homers and 35 RBI's in 115 games with Detroit and the Yankees combined...

The catcher that Houston will most likely be trotting out to the diamond will be J.R. Towles who looked abysmal in '08 batting .137 in 146 at bats. Now I know that youth is on the side of the Crosby native but it might be nice to have a guy that you know can put the ball in play and produce runs at the bottom of the lineup.

Pudge has also been known to be a clubhouse distraction and that doesn't fit the mold of Drayton McLane, but if we can get him for a cheap rate for a year or two until catching prospect Jason Castro works out (cross your fingers) i don't see it as that bad of an idea.

Leave your mark! Get the comments rolling

JB

Troy Patton Healthy and Ready to Help the O's

This time last year I was sobbing over the ridiculous trade that left the Houston Astros Troy Pattonless heading into the 2008 campaign.

Those wounds healed substantially after I heard about his torn labrum and season ending surgery...but that was only temporary. Now those scars that were left from the trade have opened once more into gaping wounds and I feel like someone just poured a full bottle of Morton's salt into my lacerations.

When I got the report that Patton was throwing a 95 mph fastball and a curveball that has been staright up foolin kids I began to think about why the Houston Astros dealt him for a mediocre short stop who could possibly be deported by May of this year. Why would you package five players in exchange for Tejada? Why would you deal away three pitchers when pitching depth is scarce already?

As Spring Training kicks off next week, the Baltimore Orioles have a great pitching prospect in camp while the Astros salivate on the offseason acquisition of Mike Hampton...the savior of the Astros rotation (Sarcasm). Patton may not be a savior to any rotation, but it sure doesn't hurt to have a talent of his magnitude waiting to get a legit shot at pitching in the Bigs.