OK, I just read the funniest article written by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe.  Shaughnessy is one fo the best baseball comunists around, his only flaw might be that he knows it. He can be a bit arrogant, and a bit sarcastic, and this article takes a few great jabs at Curt Schilling (who can’t appreciate that?) and at bloggers, (little too close to home) and those that read the blogs.  (Well, not those that read this one!)  The photo with the article makes Schilling look like he’s dropped a few pounds so it must have been an archived photo from a year or tow ago.  He’s big now.  Reports are that Beckett looks lights out, fantasy owners!  Dice-K could be all that he’s cracked up to be, or he could get roughed up his second time through the league.  Not enough data.

In NY, the word is that Carl Pavano could end up pitching opening day. It makes for a great story, and sometimes thats what I enjoy the most about doing this blog, is getting to find the good stories and making sure we are all aware of them. Now what happens if its cold and raining in NY on opening day, and Pavano gets shelled.  Do his teammates who have been making fun of him behind is back for the past two years, accusing him of collecting a check and making excuses not to pitch, do they turn their backs again or do they do what teammates should do?  THAT is the story to watch on opening day.  THAT is the thing that matters if Pavano gets the ball.  For those not up on the reason for it, Mussina would have just pitched in spring training, Jeff Karstens elbow tightened in his start yesterday, Chien-Ming Wang will start on the DL, Andy Pettitte has back soreness, and that leaves only Kei Igawa, someone who has never pitched in the US before as the only other option in the 5 man rotation.

Peter McGowan, Managing partner for the SF Giants told the press that he is worried about how the fans will treat Armando Benitez.  Apparently, he wants Benitez to apologize for some remarks made after the fans booed him in 2006.  Has anybody watched the career of Armando Benitez?  Benitez does well everywhere he plays for a year, then he starts to stink. Then the fans boo him.  Then he completely alienates them and then he is traded.  Magowan apparently think Benitez is capable of learning a new pattern.  Optimisim and Hope are special wherever you find them.  

I am going to spend these last few days before the season begins to highlight the stories around the country that we should start watching in April.  The New Year is almost upon us, and I for one can’t wait to see what it has in store!