Felix Hernandez Proving Himself Worthy

Felix Hernandez struck out 12 over eight innings as Seattle shut out Oakland 4-0 on Opening Day. Hernandez, 20, only allowed 3 hits. Hernandez had something to prove after a disappointing 2006 going 12-14 with a 4.52 ERA and said he worked on it all spring. "I was excited," Hernandez said, laughing. "In the off season, I worked for this," with a diet of primarily rice, along with daily sprints and weight training in his native Venezuela. Coaches were impressed by his control and command over the defending AL West Champions. Hernandez threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 29 batters he faced and kept his pitch count somewhat low.

AL Game of the Day: Texas vs. Angels

Rangers P Vicente Padilla (2-0 record with a 5.09 ERA in four starts)


Angels P Kelvim Escobar (11-14, 3.61 ERA last season)


Predicted Score: Angels over Rangers 5-4

NL Game of the Day: Padres vs. Giants

1. CF Dave Roberts

2. SS Omar Vizquel

3. LF Barry Bonds (.423 last season with runners in scoring position)

4. 2B Ray Durham

5. 1B Rich Aurilia (hit .291 with 10 homers on the road)

6. 3B Pedro Feliz

7. C Bengie Molina

8. RF Randy Winn

9. P Barry Zito

1. 2B Marcus Giles

2. RF Brian Giles (.274 vs. Giants last season)

3. 1B Adrian Gonzalez

4. C Josh Bard

5. CF Mike Cameron

6. SS Khalil Greene

7. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

8. LF Terrmel Sledge

9. SP Jake Peavy

Predicted Score: Giants over Padres 6-2
Actual Score: Padres over Giants 7-0

Ben Sheets is Back

Ben Sheets did not show the Dodgers any sympathy at Miller Park today retiring 24 of the final 25 hitters in a 7-1 victory. In nine innings, he surrendered a run on two hits and no walks, striking out three. This is a good feeling for all Brewers fans after Sheets only pitched in 17 games last year. Despite this being 12th career complete game, Sheets has only had one winning year which was in 2005 when he went 10-9. However, he racks up innings and usually has huge strikeout numbers. Since 2001, he is 61-69 with a 3.83 ERA and 942 K, all with the Brewers.

Cubs Will Be Sold

According to details emerging from the Tribune Company buyout, the Chicago Cubs will be sold at the end of the 2007 season. Real estate mogul Sam Zell will take the Cubs' owner, Tribune Company, private and the Cubs will be sold in order to pay down the debt acquired as a result of the transaction. Sam Zell sold his company Equity Office Properties to private-equity firm Blackstone Group for $23 billion and the assumption of $16 billion in debt. The Cubs are said to be valued around $600 million dollars. People who are known to have expressed interest in buying the Cubs include Don Levin, owner of the minor-league hockey team Chicago Wolves.

LCA Project Starts Today

Today my project started to help raise money for Derrek Lee's foundation, Project 3000. As of right now, the total number of people that have come to the site is about 284,419. That is 284 dollars. The more people that come to the site between now and May 1st, for every 1,000, I will donate 1 dollar. If you are interested in donating or want to find out more information about LCA, check out project3000.org.


DONATION AMOUNT as of April 1st: $284.00

AL Game of the Day: Twins vs. Orioles

Twins
1. Castillo
2. Punto
3. Mauer
4. Cuddyer
5. Morneau (.371 vs. BAL last season)
6. Hunter
7. White
8. Cirillo
9. Bartlett

P Johan Santana (2-1, 3.23 ERA lifetime vs. BAL)

Orioles
1. Roberts
2. Mora
3. Markakis
4. Tejada (.238 AVG vs. Santana last season)
5. Huff
6. Hernandez
7. Gibbons
8. Millar
9. Patterson

P Erik Bedard (0-3, 2.63 ERA lifetime vs. MIN)

Predicted Score: Twins over Orioles 3-1
Actual Score: Twins over Orioles 7-4

NL Game of the Day: Cubs vs. Reds

Cubs
1. Soriano
2. Murton
3. Lee
4. Ramirez (.330 AVG vs. CIN last season)
5. Jones
6. Barrett
7. DeRosa
8. Izturis
9. Zambrano (8-5, 2.80 ERA lifetime vs. CIN)

Reds
1. Freel
2. Dunn
3. Phillips
4. Griffey Jr. (.302 AVG vs. CHC last season)
5. Encarnacion
6. Hatteberg
7. Gonzalez
8. Ross
9. Harang (5-1, 4.26 ERA lifetime vs. CHC)

Predicted Score: Reds over Cubs 5-2
Actual Score: Reds over Cubs 5-1

Game of the Day: Mets vs. Cardinals

Mets
1. Reyes (.423 vs. Cardinals)
2. Lo Duca
3. Beltran
4. Delgado
5. Wright
6. Alou
7. Green
8. Valentin
9. Glavine (18-6, 3.61 ERA vs. Cardinals)

Cardinals
1. Eckstein
2. Duncan
3. Pujols (.258 vs Mets)
4. Rolen
5. Edmonds
6. Spezio
7. Molina
8. Kennedy
9. Carpenter (1-2, 4.24 ERA vs. Mets)


Predicted Score: Mets over Cardinals 5-2

Actual: Mets over Cardinals: 6-1

W: Glavine (1-0)
L: Carpenter (0-1)

Padres Lock Up Gonzalez

The Padres and Adrian Gonzalez have agreed to a four year deal, worth 9.5 million dollars. He gets a $500,000 signing bonus, $500,000 this season, $750,000 in 2008, $3 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010. The $5.5 million option for 2011 doesn't include a buyout, and he'll still be arbitration eligible if it's declined. This is a good deal for the Padres, especially while he is still cheap. Gonzalez hit .304 last year with 24 HR and 82 RBI with the Padres last season.

Cubs, Zambrano Close in on Deal

The Cubs are closing in on a five year contract, worth at least 85 million dollars with ace Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano has decided to waive his deadline to finish the deal by Opening Day that his agent says is in the final stages. "Our discussions have progressed to the point where we're going to extend the deadline for an indefinite period of time," Praver told FOXSports.com on Sunday. Zambrano, 64-42 lifetime with a 3.29 ERA, is a two-time All-Star. He has pitched 209 or more innings in each of the past four seasons. Agent Barry Praver and GM Jim Hendry are working out the final incentives, including opt clauses and a potential no trade clause.

2007 Preview

AL EAST

Red Sox 93-69

Yankees 89-73

Blue Jays 84-78

Orioles 75-87

Devil Rays 64-98

- the Yankees losing Wang and Pettitte still behind schedule doesn't help their cause with their already old rotation and even with Clemens, he didn't even dominate with the Astros last year (wins and losses wise). The Red Sox are fresh with Drew, Lugo, Pedroia, and Matsuzaka which should play in to an already stellar lineup.

AL CENTRAL

Cleveland 90-72

Tigers 88-74

White Sox 86-76

Twins 84-76

Royals 66-96

- the Tigers losing Kenny Rogers doesn't help but they still have a great team. However, it seems Justin Verlander's numbers might go down, if only a little. Furthermore, Travis Hafner will be one of the most, if not the most productive player in the AL, along with improving numbers from Sabathia, Westbrook, and Lee.

AL WEST

Angels 91-71

Athletics 88-74

Rangers 84-78

Mariners 72-90

- the Angels have always been successful and with the A's in Manager change and losing Thomas and Zito, they'll probably fall out of contention, but not without a fight.

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
- got something to prove to New York and in potential contract year.

AL Cy Young: Johan Santana
- barring injuring, he is dominant almost every start.

AL Rookie of the Year: Delmon Young
- he'll lead that team with surprising power but won't lead the team out of last place.

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Rich Harden
- he is having a great spring and if healthy, could put up Cy Young numbers.

AL Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia - with the Angels making a strong push for first, it would be hard not to give it to him.
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NL EAST

Mets 90-72

Phillies 87-75

Braves 86-76

Marlins 75-87

Nationals 51-111

- the Mets will undoubtedly take the NL East. Even better power with new addition Moises Alou, the Mets must hope that their bullpen can hold strong. The Phillies didn't look the same in spring but they will still compete during the season. The Braves improved their bullpen and Tim Hudson, now healthy, will return to form like he was with the A's.

NL CENTRAL

Cubs 87-75

Brewers 86-76

Cardinals 85-77

Astros 79-83

Reds 77-85

Pirates 73-89

- this race is still up in the air. Looking at the rotation for the Cubs, Zambrano is going to have a great year. Lilly will probably put up simliar numbers but could improve with his switch to the NL. Marquis is still be haunted by his terrible ERA last year but is in the same division with something to prove. And looking at his numbers for when he switches teams, it always improves. Rich Hill is making a push to have a above average year, proving that he can be a starter. However, the starters must be able to prove that they can go the distance so the bullpen has something to close on. The Cardinals have a good team. But Eckstein and Kennedy won't give the team much power help, and the bottom end of their rotation is so shaky, it is hard to put your money on a team in a great division, with shaky pitching. Although the Brewers look like they are peaking, Hall has to prove he can lead that team with great numbers, even after changing positions, and Sheets can return to form with high K numbers and put up wins every start. Jenkins numbers are still going down too.

NL WEST

Diamondbacks 91-70

Dodgers 83-79

Padres 82-80

Rockies 79-83

Giants 71-91

- the Dodgers added a leadoff man in Pierre, and Gonzalez seems to have at least one more year in him. Although Schmidt is hardly reaching 90 on the radar gun, he is pitching in the same division and has a great defense behind him. Furthermore, with Ethier getting most of the playing time in right field, he should be able to boost his power numbers, same for Russell Martin NL MVP: Albert Pujols
- wants it bad after being "jipped" last year and has the numbers every year to do it.

NL Cy Young: Carlos Zambrano
- Chris Carpenter won't have the run support he had last year, especially with Edmonds and Encarnacion not quite ready for Opening Day. Although Edmonds is not on the roster, he wasn't himself this spring. And the bullpen backing up the shaky Cardinals rotation isn't as strong as last year. Zambrano will either be riding off his five year contact he will get or trying to bulk up his price for the Mets and Dodgers (won't go to AL, wants to hit). Furthermore, the bullpen improved with Cotts and Wood (potentially) and with Lee back, and Soriano leading off, it makes for an absolutely sick lineup.

NL Rookie of the Year: Kevin Kouzmanoff
- showed great power this spring and kept his average up. Don't be surprised to see him leading the Padres in a lot of hitting categories at the end of the season.

NL Comeback Player of the Year: Derrek Lee
- a freak accident pushed him out in 2006 but he was off to a great start. He had an MVP like season in 2005 and with protection at the top of the order, should get a lot of RBI's along with his own production (HR, OBP).

NL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin
- the young Diamondbacks with help from Randy Johnson will show huge improvement from last year. Although they will fall short, Melvin will show the baseball world he can still manage a ballclub.
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DIVISION SERIES

Mets over Cubs
- although the Cubs have a great team, almost better on paper, they will have to prove they can go the distance, after making the playoffs.

Dodgers over Phillies
- Dodgers have the experienced players to push them into the Championship series.

Red Sox over Indians
- the Red Sox are just a better team.

Yankees over Angels - the Yankees will have the team on paper and will be determined to go far.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Dodgers over Mets
- the Mets are older this year and the Dodgers got younger. Their rotation is strong, but still has something to prove.

Yankees over Red Sox
- the Yankees will take this series because they already hit their bad streak and can't be stopped. Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez will put up impressive power numbers with Cano and Jeter backing them up. Wang, Pettitte, and Rivera will finally close the door.

WORLD SERIES

Dodgers vs. Yankees
- who knows how this will turn out but I won't determine it until I see who gets home field advantage.