Mid-Week Roundup

This is a feature that I will post whenever there isn't that much news through the first part of the week. Here's a roundup of all the little things that happened Sunday-Wednesday.

• The Pads and Rays were rumored to be interested in Jeremy Reed
• Ruben Gotay and Steve Register were placed on waivers by the Mets
• Reed Johnson was released by Toronto and then signed by the Cubbies
• Miguel Cabrera's extension was finalized for $152.3 million over 7 years
• Claudio Vargas was released by the Brewers
• Rudy Seanez was released by the Dodgers
• Tim Byrdak was released by the Tigers
• Tyler Yates was traded for Todd Redmond
• The Royals got Ramon Ramirez for a PTBNL
• San Diego got Justin Huber from KC for a PTBNL
• Brian Roberts talks are finally over with
• The Rockies released Marcus Giles, look for the Dodgers to be players for him
• Kelvim Escobar's season is over and maybe even his career
  

American League Season Preview

Ah. With the season about to officially start this morning at 3 AM(By the way, who's watching that live?), I believe it is time to do season previews. Tonight, I shall conquer the American League. In these season previews, I will post the records, standings, awards, and a brief summary of each team(1-2 sentences).

AL West
Seattle Mariners 91-71. Up 3 games from last season, will benefit by the Angels having their 2 aces out for the first month.
LA Angels of Anaheim 90-72. Would win 95, but pitching will be in the toilet first month because of pitching injuries.
Oakland Athletics 75-87. In rebuilding mode, barely not in the celler.
Texas Rangers 73-89. I just don't like their pitching, and trading away Tex was a mistake, they would've finished above A's with Tex I think.

AL Central
Detroit Tigers 97-65. With the additions of Miggy and the D-Train, Tigers are improved over last year and are my pick to win the Series.
Cleveland Indians 94-68. If they were in any other division they'd be in first, a tough 2nd place team, but Tigers are too good.
Minnesota Twins 81-81. Dark horse, but in my mind, no chance. They don't have anyone in their rotation who might actually put up some numbers, with more than 2 years of MLB experience.
Chicago White Sox 71-91. I really don't like them, but they are competing with the Royals! No chemistry, hardly any skill, if I were them, I would've traded Konerko and gotten something for him.
Kansas City Royals 69-93. Royals have no skill whatsoever except for Gordon and Meche in my mind, I like their upside if everything goes right, but that would mean John Buck hitting over .240!

AL East
Boston Red Sox 94-68. I like them, but Beckett and Schilling being out might cost them a little. Their line-up is amazing though.
New York Yankees 90-72. Not a big Yankee fan(as a fan or writer!) because they are too old and have hardly any pitching. Joba might be their best pitcher(not saying Joba isn't good, but he is young)
Tampa Bay Rays 81-81. New name, new colors, new record! Yes, this is correct, no misprint, I am picking the Rays for their first .500 season, and a 3rd place AL East finish. I like them, and I think they could beat out the Yanks in a few years, if the Yankees keep aging.
Toronto Blue Jays 78-84. I think they can be good, but they have to be healthy, which they haven't been in a while. They definitely have the skill to finish up in the division, but won't be 100% healthy, guaranteed.
Baltimore Orioles 68-94. The Baltimore Orioles will not be good at all this year! No matter what! They traded away 2 of their 3 best players and rumors say the O's and Cubs are talking about [Brian]Roberts. Maybe, and this is a big maybe, they will be up to .500 by 2010.

ALDS:
Tigers 3 Mariners 2
Red Sox 3 Indians 2

ALCS:
Tigers 4 Red Sox 2

World Series
Tigers 4 ______ 1

Awards
MVP: Miguel Cabrera
ROY: Jeff Clement(If he takes over the DH roll by mid-season)
CY: Erik Bedard or Justin Verlander

Rios Extension Close?

Ken Rosthensal is reporting that the Blue Jays and OF, Alex Rios, are close to a long term deal worth around $65 million. This is a six year deal, with an option for a seventh year, it covers two arbitration years, and(pending trade) will keep the Rios-Wells combo together until 2014 and possibly longer. I believe Rios is a great hitter, and will turn out to be better than Vernon Wells in a few years, as he is just entering his prime right now. Of course, there is always injury and stuff like that. I certainly think Rios is getting underpaid, at $10.83 million per year on average, but he gets security to be with about a .500 team and he gets guaranteed money. I will post a season preview very soon.

Nathan Extension

Well, there had been rumors, and it finally happened. Joe Nathan signed a 3 year extension with the Twins. The contract is worth $33.75 million total, $11.25 million per year. There is also an option for a fourth year, but the money for that year has not been disclosed yet. I do believe Nathan is on the decline, but is still a top 10 MLB closer. I never thought much of him because, even though he put up a lot of saves, he got a lot of decisions too and generally, when a closer has lots of wins/losses, it means he has some trouble with finishing out games, but has enough stamina to last a couple innings. I don't think the Twins thought this one out enough, Joe Nathan is aging, and who knows, maybe he'll be a Todd Jones in a few years. But the Twins don't have anyone in the ranks, waiting. If they had the future in mind, I believe they would have drafted or traded for a young future closer, like the Mariners did with Brandon Morrow. I'm just going to give you a list of my top 10 MLB closers because it kind of goes with this subject.

1. J.J. Putz, SEA
2. Jonathan Papelbon, BOS
3. Francisco Rodriguez, LAA
4. Chad Cordero, WAS
5. Francisco Cordero, MIL
   
6. Bobby Jenks, CHI
7. Joe Nathan, MIN
8. Billy Wagner, NYM
9. Huston Street, OAK
10. Jose Valverde, HOU
    

First 5 Rule 5 Picks

Just like tax time, rule 5 decision time is coming fast. There were 18 players selected in this year's rule 5 draft. Will they make the roster, or returned to their old team? Well, that's what I'm going to explore in this post. I will give you a run down, in order of being drafted, of why the rule 5 picks will or will not make their club.

1. Tim Lahay, RHP, Cubs. Lahay was taken in the draft by the Rays, then traded to the Cubs. This 6'5" pitcher has a sinker that would strike out Ichiro, if it has been groomed right. At Wrigley, it has to serve him well that he is a ground ball pitcher. Sweet Lou was quoted saying, "We'll see what happens. One thing in his favor, we'll probably end up carrying 12 pitchers. That gives us an extra pitcher to look at." I would say he has a 50/50 chance of making the club.
   
2. Evan Meek, RHP, Pirates. Meek was taken from Tampa, and has a fastball constantly in the mid-90's. Although Meek has never pitched above High-A ball, he has exactly the "stuff" the Pirates are looking for to develop. Since the Pirates aren't planning on contending this year, don't count out a roster spot for Evan Meek.
3. Randor Bierd, RHP, Orioles. Bierd is coming over from Detroit, bring his average fastball and above average breaking stuff with him. Last year he came back from elbow surgery with a strong season with the double-A, Erie Sea Wolves. He has had a strong spring so far. Even the manager, Dave Trembley likes him. "He's passes every test so far, he really has," Trembley said.
4. Jose Capellan, LHP, Reds. "He is a long shot to make it," says Reds manager, Dusty Baker. When I saw this quote, I was shocked. Because even though the Reds have decent pitching, their bullpen isn't amazing, and I thought Capellan would have a spot, since I really like what he's got. But don't expect him on the Reds this year.

5. Carlos Guevara, RHP, Padres. The Marlins took him from Cincinnati, then traded him to the Pads. Guevara doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but he throws a screwball! He had a great strikeout rate of 1.4 K's/IP. I like him, but with San Diego's deep bullpen and their other rule 5 pitcher, I do not think he'll make it.

This is a series of four posts, this was the first, I will do five picks each post, except for the last one, that one will have three. More to come!

Cabrera's Extension

From what I have heard from ESPN's Enquire Rojas, Miguel Cabrera is going to sign an 8 year, $153.3 million extension with the Detroit Tigers! Now, to offer my opinion on this, which this site is for, I don't know if Miggy will put up as big of numbers now that he has a big time contract. I believe he is young and still loves the game of baseball, but one of the few things he had to play for down in Florida was to earn his money! He is a man of many skills, but I don't think he will use them as well now. I will leave it at that and see what you think.

The Baseball Review

Hello, my name is Evan Webeck and this is The Baseball Review. On this site, I will post my opinion on all the baseball trades, contracts, and rumors going on around the country. The reason I am not posting rumors right when they happen is that I have enough competition for that main spot in your bookmarks and I can't write on the spot while I am at school. So I will review it right when I get home. Here's just a little info about me. I am a 14 year old baseball fanatic. I live about 20 miles north of Seattle, in a little town we like to call Snohomish, Washington. So here we go, tell your friends!