:: Closing Time ::

:: Saturday, March 29, 2003 ::

Great questions presented by Tom Verducci about and during spring training. He asked aboud three per team, but I picked out the most entertaining:

AL EAST

New York Yankees: Will anybody with information about the whereabouts of Rondell White and Sterling Hitchcock please contact stadium lost and found?

Boston Red Sox: Can Jeremy Giambi make this team forget the Tony Clark era?

Toronto Blue Jays: Did anybody notice that Roy Halladay became a legit ace?

Baltimore Orioles: Is Camden Yards, even with this [awful] team in it, still the prettiest palace in baseball?

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Did you know the Rays, in the diamond version of American Idol, are bringing 29 non-roster players to camp?

AL CENTRAL

Minnesota Twins: Does the crop of young Twins outfielders here and on the way remind you of the Angels of the mid-'90s?

Chicago White Sox:Isn't Frank Thomas a way better hitter than his .252 average from last season would indicate?

Kansas City Royals: Can you name the Royals starting rotation and, if so, don't you think you should get out a little more?

Detroit Tigers: Did you know the Yankees outscored the Tigers by 322 runs last year or that most Detroit teams from the turn-of-the-century dead ball era outscored the '02 Tigers?

AL WEST

Oakland Athletics: What date do you have in the Erubiel Durazo injury pool at the office?

Anaheim Angels: Isn't watching Frankie Rodriguez make good hitters look bad one of the guilty pleasures in baseball? (My favorite overall)

Texas Rangers: The bullpen can't be any worse -- can it?

NL EAST

Montreal Expos: They don't dare trade free-agent-to-be Vladimir Guerrero, do they?

Philadelphia Phillies: Which is more likely, Pat Burrell and Jim Thome combine for 90 home runs, or 325 strikeouts

Florida Marlins: Neifi Perez, Jeff Cirillo, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla couldn't do it, so can Juan Pierre actually be better for leaving Coors Field?

New York Mets: Does Art Howe know what he's getting himself into? (2nd place)

NL CENTRAL

Houston Astros: Does Jimy Williams have the quickest hook in the game? (Having seen him pull Pedro during a 1 hitter which he proceeded to get a no decision in, YES.)

Cincinnati Reds: Should anybody be surprised when Ken Griffey Jr. hits 40 homers?

Pittsburgh Pirates: Aramis Ramirez can't possibly be as horrible as he was last season, can he?

Milwaukee Brewers: Which leaks worse, the Milwaukee bullpen or the roof?

NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks: Anybody want to bet against Randy Johnson winning another Cy? (No, I've already got him penciled even more surely than Pedro. Matt Morris is good, but he's no Big Unit.)

San Francisco Giants: Aren't the Giants still a serious contender as long as Barry Bonds is in the lineup?

Los Angeles Dodgers: Isn't it time for Adrian Beltre (.303 OBP, 20 errors) to live up to the hype?

Colorado Rockies: Is Jose Jimenez the game's most underrated closer (41 saves), or proof that the job is overrated (10 losses)?




WOOO HERE COMES THE SEASON
:: Peter 6:23 AM [+] ::
...