jjmoney62 wrote:
I was just remarking that your predictions for this year look a lot like last year's finishes. I was being snarky.
Me? I know nothing. I'll defer to Keith Olbermann who just now sounded like he knows everything, including the prediction that some young arm on the Tigers could win the Cy Young. But maybe it's not hard to sound smart next to Dan Patrick and Tino Martinez.
I'll offer a little intelligence on two things:
** Like I warned you last year, the Yankees are on the decline. Expect another breakdown this year, especially in their starting rotation. The heyday is over.
** If he's eligible, Jim Thome for comeback player. And not just because I saw him hit two homers, one to left, one to right, a week ago against the Cubs in Mesa. He's going to turn it on this year and remind you of a combination of Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble. Now those were the days. .... Break it down, Jack Brohamer time.
I'll take your word for Olbermann's omniscience.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks won 100 games or 85, given the age of their rotation. The heyday, my friend, ended in the Arizona desert in November 2001.
But I am optimistic that Steinbrenner will live up to his pledge to give Cashman more authority--Steinbrenner has so far, from all reports--and that this could lead to a rejuvenated farm system and more intelligent drafting, trading and free agent signing. A new heyday could well be on the horizon.
Jim Thome is, as John Sterling once said, "built like the village smithy." I wholeheartedly agree that he can be a force if healthy. I was very surprised, though, to see Murray Chass in the Times pick the White Sox for third in their division, behind the Twins and Indians. With the White Sox' rotation not having undergone any downgrades (unless you want to see the addition of Javier Vazquez as a downgrade, which is possible), I don't know how you can pick against them.