Presidents Day Links: Fat Miguel Cabrera Loses Weight, Kyle Kendrick Gets Punked
Posted by Alan Hull on February 18th, 2008
Notes From Around Spring Training
Newly acquired Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera came to camp for the Tigers having lost at least 15 lbs. This is good for Cabrera, obviously, who has taken a lot of heat for his weight. He is excited and motivated now, playing for a contender. Baseball Prospectus’s PECOTA projects a .300/.374/.515 season with 28 home runs, but I think that’s a huge low-ball. I’m thinking Monster season with improved defense–he can only go up in that department.
Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubalndo Jiminez put on 17 pounds of muscle this off-season and is now up to 217. This is probably good for the lanky, hard-throwing pitcher who will be expected to step into the Rockies starting rotation.
Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Kendrick gets tricked that he was traded to Japan. Manager Charlie Manuel, Assistant General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr., his teammates and the media were all in on it.
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Obscure Sports Quarterly talks about presidents and baseball for Presidents Day.
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New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter sucks at defense, does not suck with women. (The Big Lead)
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Deadspin does Tampa Bay Rays season preview. Here are some excerpts:
“Will super-prospect Evan Longoria, be the second-coming of David Wright?
Magic 8-Ball says: The Dirtbag can do it all! He can hit, hit for power, field, cure cancer, bake, babysit your kids and end the suffering in Darfur.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be a team to reckon with in the very near future. I don’t give a rat’s ass if the Spankees and the Pink Hats keep the Rays in third place five of the next six years. Making the playoffs with a $150MM payroll is like banging a drunk ugly chick. It’s easy. And it will never be as pleasurable as having a threesome with your girlfriend and Natalie Portman, which is what it will feel like that one year the Tampa Bay Rays do win the division.”
The writer goes on to predict 80+ wins and meaningful games in September, which I doubt, but I appreciate the optimism.
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