From coast to coast and even beyond the western horizon, there has been a whole lotta love going on in the sporting world this week.  Starting out in Tokyo, Japan where, for some crazy reason only known by Bud Selig and his cronies in the MLB executive office, the baseball season began by a split in the two games by Oakland and Seattle, and Ichiro earned some well deserved love by the homecoming crowd.  It was rightfully so, because he had four hits in the first game and is surely to be the first Japanese player to enter Cooperstown because he is such a great all around player.  It makes you wonder about how other Japanese ballplayers, such as Sadaharu Oh, would have fared in major league baseball.  I am all for giving Oh a whole lotta love and then enshrining him into Cooperstown as the “Babe Ruth” of Japanese baseball.  I think he would have won a few home run titles had he been given the chance to play on American soil.

There is certainly a whole lotta love going on right now for the Magic Johnson led group of investors who finally rid the proud Los Angeles Dodger franchise of bad owner Frank McCourt.  Even though they paid the man far too much for the franchise, it will turn out to be a great investment after a decade or two.  A hundred or so miles down the coast in San Diego another bad owner, Jeff Moorad, was also shown the door.  It kind of makes one wonder why Selig and the other owners keep approving these bozos.

There is a whole lotta love going on in the national media for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season after a breakout year last season where they surprised everyone and won the NL West title easily.  CBS Sports is forecasting a Diamondback/Detroit Tigers World Series, which certainly will make me and fellow bloggers AverageFanOfDetroit, IHateMillen, and StorminNorman happy if it comes to pass.  By the way I have been forecasting the same World Series match-up myself, so I will be loving this Series should it come to pass.

A whole lotta love is pouring out of New Orleans right now as the Final Four in the Big Dance have been set, and Ohio State, Louisville, Kansas, or Kentucky will be crowned Champion by Monday night.  It kind of makes you want to dance the night away.

Finally a whole lotta love is running amok all over the country as the major league baseball season begins in earnest next Thursday.  I wish all your favorite teams’ great success.  Just remember that your teams do not need a whole lotta love from the National Media to be successful.  Success happens on the field and not in the printed word.  I found that out last season when the nationally panned Arizona Diamondbacks decided that they were much better than the media claimed them to be. 

  Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Sexy Action Sports Saturday. If you’re waking up and reading this, you clearly did NOT win the big Mega Millions jackpot… chances are, nobody that needs it will. Probably some 85-year old broad in Idaho that just played it for the opportunity to go to the store and have somebody to talk to for a minute. Personally, I view the lottery as a tax on stupid people. Don’t play it regularly, not going to start just because the jackpot is up to 500-plus million. I’ll keep the dollar.

   We all know who DOESN’T need to win that Mega Millions jackpot… Mr. Frank McCourt, the recent divorcee of both a greedy gash of a wife and now a Major League Baseball franchise. The best part to me, she only gets what they already decided on in the divorce agreement… which is nowhere near half the 2.14 billion dollars an investment group headed by Magic Johnson paid for a .500 ballclub. Hopefully this group can get Dodger blue back to what it once was… having an MVP candidate in Matt Kemp and Cy Young winner in Clayton Kershaw never hurts, though.

   Just when I was getting ready to at least give Saints’ coach Sean Payton some props for taking his punishment like a man, he pulls the normal horse shit and appeals his 1 year suspension. What about your “I’m sorry for what happened and as head coach I take full responsibility” speech last week? I hope the Saints fire your ass before next April. Of course, that probably means I’ll have to see your dumb ass on ESPN the next fucking week as an “NFL expert”.

   Hey Martha Burk… how about you quit bothering Augusta National Golf Club about having a woman member and go make me a fucking turkey pot pie? Honestly, this broad just never shuts the hell up. She had a public protest back in 2003, attempting to get the first woman member into the club since it began in 1933. Now, women are allowed IN, and allowed to play the course, they just aren’t allowed to be fucking members… and apparently playing the course/watching events just isn’t good enough for this fucking glass-ceiling femi-nazi. She wants current IBM CEO to be given the symbolic “green jacket” as the first female member of Augusta National. Funny she waits til right before the fucking Masters to bring this shit up and not when this broad was named the CEO. Keep reaching for that unreachable star… and while you’re reaching, go to the fuckin fridge and get me a beer, woman!

  Two things that have been pissing me off lately… American teams playing abroad, ESPECIALLY season-openers, and all this Spanish-language horse shit showing up on NBA jerseys. Major League Baseball is as American as it gets… and you’re screwing two struggling teams, the Mariners and A’s, out of home games with this opening series in Japan… let alone spring training time. Just like the NFL playing in fucking England, this is total bull shit. Stay on the continent you dumb pricks… NFL Europe FAILED, and Japan has it’s own baseball league. As for the NBA, what the fuck is with this “Spanish heritage” jersey crap? El Heat, Los Spurs… ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKERS… DO YOU SPEAK IT? Not as effective when I say it, take it away Sammy…

  This week’s shut the fuck up award will not even be put up for a vote… I’m telling you who needs to shut the fuck up this time around, and it’s Spike Lee. This dipshit, all in a pissy fit over the Trayvon Martin case down in Florida, tweeted what he THOUGHT was the address of suspected killer George Zimmerman, only to have it be the wrong fucking address. The McClain family wound up being the victims of Spike Lee’s stupidity, and were forced to leave their home after several threats and live with their son. Then the asshole tries to get out of it by simply tweeting a fucking apology. Fuck you, Spike Lee, dip into that “Do the Right Thing” money and pay these people for your stupidity.

  The worst part, this asshole is actually trying to put somebody’s address out there on twitter with intent for that person to come to great bodily harm. Sounds like he’s a fucking accessory to murder if George Zimmerman DOES happen to get killed before he’s ever charged. Fuck, that’s how they got Charles Manson… it’s just people are so fucking dumb these days they don’t even need psychedelic drugs to follow a dip shit like this, they just do shit because somebody famous said so. Fuck off Spike Lee, I hope somebody tweets YOUR address, and I hope somebody shows up at YOUR house with ill intentions someday. Fucking race-baiting maggot. Who the fuck are you and what the fuck have YOU done of any kind of signifigance in your life that makes you the guy to bring anybody to justice?

  There IS a voting opportunity this week… with a Final Four theme. The Kentucky Wildcats face off against the Louisville Cardinals in a battle for bluegrass state supremacy, not to mention a trip to the championship game, and coaches John Calipari and Rick Pitino face off today in a battle of “who’s the bigger dirt bag?” These two coaches are the only two to bring three different teams to the Final Four… of course, Pitino is the only “official” coach to do so, because Calipari’s previous two Final Four appearances at UMass and Memphis were vacated because of NCAA sanctions. But, the vote is yours, gabitants… which one of these two greaseballs is the bigger bag of shit? Be sure to cast your vote in the comments below.

    That’s it for me this week, folks. Opening Day (in America… fuck this Japan opening series shit) is coming up Thursday… Tigers-Sawx… can’t wait to see Prince Fielder in a Tigers jersey for real! Hope you all enjoy the last no-baseball weekend of the spring/summer/fall.

Well folks, the Major League Baseball season is officially under way. While the rest of us were sleeping or getting ready for work over the last two days, the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners were putting on a showcase of offensive prowess, scoring a combined nine runs in two games. But for the rest of us, the (other) real season starts next week when the rest of the league gets under way, on this side of the Pacific.

So what do fans do for that last weekend of spring training? Well, they can load up on knowledge of possible break-out candidates for the 2012 season, and since I have drafted in all of my leagues, I have no problem sharing my All-Breakout Team for 2012.

2012 MLB All-Breakout Team

Yasmani Grandal – San Diego Padres – Catcher

Yonder Alonso gets a lot of publicity for being the prize of the Mat Latos trade, but Grandal may be just as important to the Padres future. A switch-hitting catcher with power, Grandal played across three levels in 2011. He has absolutely torn the cover off the ball during Spring Training, but will likely start 2012 at Triple-A to further season (read here as start his arbitration clock later) as he’s only played 113 games in the minors. Still, Grandal will likely be a call-up around June and could a solid mid-season addition for a team looking for an upgrade at catcher.

Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks – First Base

Goldschmidt came up in 2011 with a lot of hype and proceeded to hit 8 home runs in 156 at-bats to close out the regular season. That said he also struck out at an alarming rate of once every three at-bats. Still, he showed a reversal of that during the NLDS, when he tried to carry the D-Backs into the next round by hitting a robust .438 with another pair of home runs and 6 RBI. He’ll need to cut down on his strike-outs, but his power is legit and he could easily crank out 30-plus home runs in the thin desert air.

Dustin Ackley – Seattle Mariners – Second Base

Ackley is a huge part of the Mariners’ future and is a big reason why they are pushing a youth movement in Seattle. After a solid rookie campaign that saw him hit .273 with 6 home runs, 16 double, 7 triples, 36 RBI across 90 games. That’s not bad production out of a 23-year-old second baseman. Ackley is already off to a solid start in 2012, hitting his first home run and driving in a pair during the opening series against Oakland in Japan. He should be on everybody’s radar as a player to watch in 2012.

Zack Cozart – Cincinnati Reds – Shortstop

Cozart is somewhat old for a rookie, entering 2012 at the ripe age of 26-years-old, but he made the most out of his cup of coffee in 2011, playing in 11 games and getting 12 hits, including a pair of home runs. He enters 2012 as the starting shortstop for the Reds, and he isn’t showing any signs of letting that go thanks to a solid spring. His power numbers in the minors are solid for a shortstop, so we may be talking about a possible 15-20 home run season from a shortstop. Take into consideration that he plays his home games in the launching pad of Great American Ballpark, and you have the recipe for a sleeper.

Brett Lawrie – Toronto Blue Jays – Third Base

I’ve already spilled the beans on Lawrie, but I cannot stress enough how much of a stud hitter he is going to be. His long term defensive position may be second base, but that won’t slow down his bat.

Dayan Viciedo – Chicago White Sox – Outfield

Viciedo has looked horrible this spring, despite being anointed the starting left fielder heading into camp. Still, the White Sox didn’t ship Carlos Quentin out of town simply for cost cutting purposes. The kid they call “The Tank” will be a legitimate power hitter in the bigs and at 23-years-old, should be a part of the White Sox outfield for years to come.

Ben Revere – Minnesota Twins – Outfield

Revere got a big taste of the majors in 2011, appearing in 117 games and doing a decent job, despite the injuries around him. Coming into 2012, the fleet-footed outfielder will be given a starting job. He doesn’t have a lot of power in his stick, but he makes up for it on the base paths with a boatload of stolen bases. Comparatively speaking, a good starting point would be Michael Bourn, and if the M&M boys are healthy in 2012, Revere could be adding a lot of runs scored too.

JD Martinez – Houston Astros – Outfield

There isn’t a lot to be excited about with the Astros in 2012, but I’ve decided that there are at least two players worth keeping an eye on in Houston, with Martinez being the first. Martinez got his shot after the trade of Hunter Pence and put up a solid .264 with 6 home runs and 35 RBI in 53 games played. Combined with the 13 home runs he hit in the minors before his call-up, and the kid could actually give the Astros a reasonable approximation of Pence n 2012, minus the stolen bases.

Jordan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals – Pitcher

Stephen Strasburg gets all the hype in Washington, and rightfully so, but Zimmerman is another young arm that the Nationals are building their rotation around. He enters 2012 a year removed from his own Tommy John surgery, and faired decently in his first year back with an 8-11 record, 124 strike-outs, and 3.18 ERA during the 2011 campaign. He won’t be as electric as Strasburg, but he’ll cost you a lot less on draft day. Oh, and unlike Strasburg, his Tommy John training wheels should be fully off in 2012.

Bud Norris – Houston Astros – Pitcher

Norris is the other Astro on this list, and rightfully so. Don’t let his 2011 record of 6-11 fool you. Instead, we need to focus on Norris’s 3.77 ERA and 176 strike-outs. Playing for Houston won’t do his record any wonders, but entering his prime, it isn’t without reason to expect him to further improve upon all subordinate stats. He has above average stuff and on another team; he’d be a top flight fantasy option. Still, gain from other players’ mistakes and don’t let Norris slide by.

Drew Pomeranz – Colorado Rockies – Pitcher

Pomeranz was sort of an after thought in 2011, as he appeared in only four games, but that just means he will fly under the radar. Pomeranz was the key acquisition in the trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians at last year’s deadline, and he’s shown why this spring, by surrendering only a single run across 11 innings pitched thus far. He’s got a stellar 10.6 K/9 rate and has surrendered only 3 home runs over 101 innings pitched in the minors.  He will pitch his home games in Coors Field, but with the advent of the humidor, that isn’t as much of a stigma as it once was. He is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate in 2012.

A green thumb I am not...

I did not get that gene from my Dad...

Who was the greenest of thumbs...

After a few minutes in the yard...

And I’d make a U-turn back into the house...

Dodging wasps along the way...

That’s real work if you ask me...

I’ve got better things to do than dodge wasps...

Like write blogs...

And watch wrestling...

A real manly man I am...

The lovely Miss Kim and I have a running joke...

Every time I enter a Home Depot...

I get hives...

I am allergic to those places...

First of all...

They are way too big for me...

Clear all that junk out of there...

And lets play some wiffle ball... 

The only thing a Home Depot is good for...

Are the sausages at the front door...

Ernie Banks said...

“Let’s play two...”

Like I say...

I’ll take two...

Pardon me...

But do you happen to have any Grey Poupon...

And this thing has always bugged my soul...

Am I a real man even though I hate yard work???

I don’t fix things either...

What I know about cars...

You can put on the head of a pin...

And still have plenty of room left over...

As for me???

I’m a people person...

Put me in a room full of kids...

And I will keep ‘em entertained for hours...

Give me a wrench...

And I will probably wrench my back...

Just make sure those wasps are napping when I come over...

I got stung once...

Not fun...

Like I said...

Not a gardener...

Not a mechanic...

A people person...

However...

Some people...

Are NOT people persons...

Or people people for that matter...

I’ve seen that a lot with business owners...

Just because a guy has a little cash...

Doesn’t mean he can run a business...

You have to have some savvy...

That’s right..

Some savvy to go along with the cash...

That brings us to one man, doesn’t it...

The man who came out smelling like a rose...

But stuck us with his thorns along the way...

The Dodger franchise...

With all its regality...

Was gift wrapped...

A thing of beauty...

A jewel of the National League...

Vin Scully...

Who could ask for a better spokesperson???

Gibby goes yard on the Eck...

Koufax and Drysadale...

Garvey, Lopes, Russell, and Cey...

Tommy Lasorda...

Bleeding Dodger Blue...

And many more memories...

Who in the world could screw it up???

Enter Frank McCourt...

At first...

I really liked the guy...

Maybe you didn’t trust him...

But I did...

I even bought a half season in his early years...

Then refused to set foot in Chavez Ravine...

As it all unraveled...

In his latter years...

Need we list the failures???

Naw...

What’s the use???

And in the end...

He comes out smellin’ like a rose...

Roses are nice...

So nice...

They named a parade...

And a football game after them...

Frank...

I hope you are proud of yourself...

I hope you sleep well tonight....

And most of all...

Be careful not to stick yourself with those thorns...

They hurt...

We know...

You’ve stuck us a time or two...

dvt

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