2008 MLB Preview – 25 Questions Until Opening Day I

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Two years ago, Aaron Cameron, Mike Hulse, and Thomas Daniels did a pre-season feature called 25 Questions Until Opening Day. As it turned out, it didn’t suck and generated more e-mail than most of the other baseball related things we did that year. As it also turned out, Cam nailed the World Series winner that year, too… a fact which led to the memorable “Kneel before Zod, b*tches” line which neither Hulse nor I have forgotten.

We opened it up to the floor and, therefore, Tailgate Crashers happily presents the 2008 version of “25 Questions Until Opening Day: Be Better Than Bootleg”.

1) What was the single best off-season move?

Aaron Cameron: I think the Yankees re-signing Alex Rodriguez for 10 years/$275M qualifies, if for no other reason than the fact that A-Rod negotiated the deal himself. Anything that kicks super-agent/a-hole Scott Boras in the nuts rocks the casbah in my book.

Chad Jorgenson: Trading away zero of your top two prospects for the best pitcher in the known universe. Closely followed by the bold decision to have no one sign Barry Lamar Bonds. Yes, I’m adding the middle name from here on out, puts him up there in that John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald category.

Thomas Daniels: As a Mets’ fan, my pick is obvious. The Mets dumping a bunch of farm talent they won’t be using in the near future for the best pitcher in baseball. They took their 90-win team, dropped the guy who blew the season and replaced him with Johan F’n Santana. I don’t think it’s even close. Honorable mention goes to the Diamondback’s deal for Dan Haren, which if Randy Johnson can stay remotely healthy this season, gives them one of the best 1-3s in the league and a chance in any five- or seven-game series.

Eugene Tierney: I’m torn between Santana to New York, Cabrera to Detroit, and Haren to the D’Backs; I have to lean towards Santana. Sure, he’s switching leagues, but he’ll be facing the pitcher rather than the DH, the new park (and most in the Division) is a pitcher’s park, and will join a contender.

Hulse: With all deference to my Mets getting Johan, it’s gotta be the D-Backs trading for Haren. With an ace already in Brandon Webb, the team that won the NL West has lost nothing, looks to only improve with all their youth, and added a 1b to go with their 1a in the rotation. It’s like Unit and Schilling, only they’re not in their mid to late 30’s.

2) What was the single worst off-season move?

Aaron: Well, it’s less of a “move” and more of a “decision”, but whoever made the call to open the regular season in Japan should be drawn n’ quartered, tarred n’ feathered and any other compound-torture concept. I know it’s not unprecedented, but, really…does the country that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic need MLB to make more Japanese love the game?

Chad: Trading six prospects including your top two for a pitcher who hasn’t been good in 3 years and an overweight third baseman. I think the Tigers will be a good team this year, but talk about giving up on the future for the present.

Daniels: The Orioles moving Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard. This is only the worst because they should have done it two years ago when the Mets could have gotten Roy Oswalt out of the deal.

Eugene: The Astros trading the weak farm for Miguel Tejada. He’s in decline and they gave up a lot of prospects for him. Maybe moving to the Juice Box will help him rebound. Off course, what do you expect from Ed Wade.

Hulse: The Twins holding out with Johan trying to bait 3 teams into a bidding war was abominable. They had offers out there that could have netted them major league ready arms in Phil Hughes or Clay Buchholz, but instead they held out for more with both the Yanks and Sawks. The Mets had a good offer out there but the Twins demanded Jose Reyes. In the end, all they got was Carlos Gomez and the pitching rotation lottery or Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey, and Phil Humber. If those 3 become the next Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz, then I’ll eat some crow. However, Guerra is considered kind of a risk and Humber already had Tommy John surgery. This is not how you win baseball games.

3) Has the magic of Firejoemorgan.com been lost for you now that you know that Ken Tremendous is a writer for The Office and named “Schurr”?

Aaron: As long as there is so much bad sportswriting out there, I’ll always have a bookmark for FJM, regardless of who the authors are. There are still people who think David Eckstein and Darin Erstad are “winning” players. FJM still has much work to be done.

Chad: Ummmm………who’s Ken Tremendous? And why are we firing Joe Morgan?

Daniels: A little. It was much more fun when I thought it was two or three stat-geeks with a computer and a sense of humor. It’s still really funny, but knowing that they’re professional TV Writers broke down a fourth wall that I didn’t need broken down.

Eugene: I love it. The Office is one of the best shows on TV and Firejoemorgan.com have always been an entertaining read.

Hulse: Ummmm…….no. Absolutely not. That site is brilliant for both comedy’s sake and to further the cause of stat-heads everywhere. VIVA VORP!!!

4) This year marks 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series. If my theory is correct and the 23rd Street Mason’s Complex in Manhattan contains a Board Room that scripts all sports, is it in the bag for the Cubs? Will I be slain for revealing this?

Aaron: The Northsiders are just barely the best team in their division (and maybe not that if Milwaukee’s pitching avoids injury), so I’m not nearly as sold on them as a lot of folks. This is the same front office that thought the gritty “calls-a-good-game” remains of Jason Kendall (HAW!) was the final piece of last year’s puzzle. They look like an 85-win team that’ll need to get hot at the right time to play deep in October. RIP, Tom.

Chad: Nope, No Series for da Cubbies.

Daniels: Now that I have exposed this plan, no. Otherwise, yes. I have a detailed description of where this Board Room is and the membership list which will be sent to the NY Post in the event of my demise. Everyone will believe it if it’s in the Post.

Eugene: Nothing is certain for the Cubs, but you will be slain for revealing the location of the secret Board Room.

Hulse: It’d be in the bag if they had pitching to count on. Masons do not script sports. If they did, the Cubs and Red Sox would have both advanced in 2003 to play in the World Series, which would have caused a major paradox and ripped a hole in the space-time continuum. Actually, now that I think of it, better that they didn’t play. We’d all be vaporized.

5) Will option-year Manny Ramirez light it up like he hasn’t lit it up since 2005?

Aaron: In general, the huge lumbering behemoths of the steroid era haven’t aged all that well. Manny’s decline has begun and I don’t see how a 35-year-old with over 2000 regular and postseason games on his odometer can reverse it. He’ll still be better than most team’s leftfielders at the plate, though. I call .280 BA, 25 HR.

Daniels: Reports are saying that Manny’s in the best shape of his life right now. He’s also in a team option year; which makes it almost certain that the Red Sox will decline the option and try to re-negotiate… so in all reality he’s probably in a walk-year. Knowing that, I think he puts up whatever power year he has left in him… to the tune of a 30 HR, 110 RBI, .297/.380/.600 type year.

Chad: No, he’s going to have about the same year as last year, maybe a few more homeruns, but nothing impressive.

Eugene: He’ll put up some his best numbers, but will take a discount to stay in Boston. He likes being the center of their drama.

Hulse: I don’t think he will. I could be wrong, but I think he’s just declining as he gets a lot closer to 40 than 30; not to mention there’s a good chance Manny doesn’t realize that his contract is up…nor that he can, you know, count. Seriously, do you think Manny Ramirez can count to 160 million? I have my doubts. While we’re on the subject of the savant, am I the only one who thinks the Sawks dealt Hanley Ramirez to Florida not only for Josh Beckett, but also to avoid confusing Manny with the whole same last name deal? Like if Hanley was announced at the plate, Manny might start wandering to the plate aimlessly, looking confused. Or he’d mix up their jerseys like 4 games a week? I think I’m onto something here.


Tune in tomorrow when Tailgate Crashers address the landing spot for Barry Bonds, the most improved team, and more. If you missed it earlier, be sure to check out Aaron’s NL West Preview and Tom’s AL East Preview.