Plenty of steroid-free story lines
April 2, 2006
Why is it this feeling (STEROIDS!) exists? Used to be, the Sunday before Real Opening Day stirred something. This year, the only thing we feel like serving is Pepto to soothe that queasy feeling (STEROIDS!) that the game doesn't matter as much.
Daily perusal of the newspapers (STEROIDS!) and Web sites (STEROIDS!) only seems to confirm this suspicion. You psyche yourself up to read about Albert Pujols and where his career stacks in relation to Ted Williams, and instead (STEROIDS!) you get "Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, The Early Years."
Don't be mistaken. This space has been unrelenting in its praise for the two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, because the story (STEROIDS!) they tell in "Game of Shadows" had to be told.
They deserve every ounce of fame they get.
But who among us wouldn't mind a respite from the (STEROIDS!) storm. Normally, the regular season provides that, but in this new age (STEROIDS!), that seems more unlikely than ever.
It's not like this (STEROIDS!) is going away. Who knows the number of players who right now are pumping themselves full of human growth hormone or taking some other complex compound (STEROIDS!) that has not yet come to the public's attention?
Such is the world we live. Baseball (STEROIDS!) used to be box scores. Now it's George Mitchell, investigations, amphetamines, Congressional pressure, advertising boycotts and Bud Selig looking lost.
The game's return to the field has practically become an afterthought.
Too bad, too, because as we mentioned in this space one year ago, what lies beneath the warts (STEROIDS) is pretty darn good.
If only the same could be said about the predictions, which based on last year's picks, could use some performance enhancers.
AL MVP: MARK TEIXEIRA, RANGERS: Pay no attention to the fact that he went hitless in the World Baseball Classic. Teixeira has averaged 36 homers and 113 RBI in his first three seasons, and he continues to shore up holes in his swing. If he can hit for some power from the right side (37 of his 43 last season were from the left), then he'll really be a nightmare (Keep an eye on: Jhonny Peralta, Indians).
My 2005 preseason pick: Gary Sheffield, Yankees: He didn't do himself poorly, finishing eighth in the voting after hitting .291 with 34 homers and 123 RBI.
NL MVP: ALBERT PUJOLS, CARDINALS: The 10 hitters to whom Pujols is considered similar, according to baseball-reference.com? Try Joe DiMaggio, Frank Robinson, Jimmie Foxx, Hank Aaron, Hal Trosky, Vladimir Guerrero, Orlando Cepeda, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle and Joe Medwick. Save for Trosky, that someday will be a Who's Who of the Hall of Fame. Pujols, with his .332 average, .416 on-base percentage, .621 slugging percentage, 201 homers and 621 RBI in his first five seasons is heading there, too. (Keep an eye on: David Wright, Mets).
My 2005 preseason pick: Pujols: Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.
AL CY YOUNG: ROY HALLADAY, BLUE JAYS: He was heading for one (12-4, 2.41, .230 opponents average) when he took a liner off his shin last July, ending his season. No reason to think he won't be every bit as good this time, especially since he already has one Cy Young (2003) to his credit already. (Keep an eye on: Rich Harden, A's).
My 2005 preseason pick: Randy Johnson, Yankees: He won 17 games thanks to a strong finish, but he wasn't nearly the Big Unit of old.
NL CY YOUNG: JAKE PEAVY, PADRES: Durability is the only question surrounding him, because he's yet to pitch more than 203 innings in a season. That said, Peavy's as nasty as they come, a fact reflected in his 2.61 ERA since the start of 2004 and 545 strikeouts since the start of 2003. (Keep an eye on: Chris Capuano, Brewers).
My 2005 preseason pick: Tim Hudson, Braves: His ERA hovered around 3.50 (3.52) and he failed to touch 200 innings (192) for the second consecutive season.
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: FRANCISCO LIRIANO, TWINS: The "throw-in" addition to Minnesota's acquisition of Joe Nathan from the Giants, Liriano struck out 33 in 23ª innings as a September call-up. He has a lot of refining to do, but scouts haven't drooled over skills like this since ... well, since Felix Hernandez arrived in Seattle last fall. (Keep an eye on: Delmon Young, Devil Rays).
My 2005 preseason pick: Grady Sizemore: Everybody, step right up and throw eggs on the face of the one who was mistaken in his belief that Sizemore was still a rookie.
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: CONOR JACKSON, DIAMONDBACKS: Yes, he struggled in his indoctrination to big-league pitching, but the guess here is that it won't happen again. Jackson hit .354 and had a .454 on-base percentage at Triple-A, and save for 85 at-bats with the D'backs, he's killed the ball at every stop. (Keep an eye on: Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals).
My 2005 preseason pick: J.J. Hardy. After a horrible first half (.187, 1, 19), he rebounded nicely in the second and finished with decent numbers (.249, 9, 50).
AL COMEBACK PLAYER: JIM THOME, WHITE SOX: He averaged 48 homers and 112 RBI from 2000-04, then succumbed to a thumb ailment last season. The great news for Chicago is that he hasn't complained of any problems this spring (Keep an eye on: Phil Nevin, Rangers).
My 2005 preseason pick: Jason Giambi, Yankees: Correct, but it should've been the A's Mark Ellis.
NL COMEBACK PLAYER: CHAN HO PARK, PADRES: Just a hunch here, and it's based on his outstanding work in the WBC and the fact that his five-year, $65 million contract runs out this season. He's 26-26 with a 5.79 ERA since signing it. (Keep an eye on: Nomar Garciaparra).
My 2005 preseason pick: Andy Pettitte, Astros: Helped carry Houston into the playoffs during the second half.
AL BREAKOUT PLAYER: JOE MAUER, TWINS: He was the most consistent middle-of-the-order threat for Minnesota last season, and it was only his second season. Year three could finally bring some big numbers for the 23-year-old. (Keep an eye on: Casey Kotchman, Angels).
My 2005 preseason pick: Rich Harden, A's: He was fine when he pitched (10-5, 2.53, 121 strikeouts), but he didn't pitch enough (14 missed starts).
NL BREAKOUT PLAYER: MATT HOLLIDAY, ROCKIES: He drove in 64 RBI after the All-Star break last season, and only one player in the NL (Philadelphia's Chase Utley) had more. (Keep an eye on: Aaron Miles, Cardinals).
My 2005 preseason pick: Wright, Mets: Hitting .306 with 27 homers and 102 RBI qualifies.
AL FLOP: A.J. BURNETT, BLUE JAYS: Five words: Chan Ho Park, Part II. (Keep an eye on: Josh Beckett).
My 2005 preseason pick: Carl Pavano, Yankees: He was even worse (4-6, 4.77 in 17 starts) than anticipated.
NL FLOP: ALFONSO SORIANO, NATIONALS: Judging by the ruckus he caused in the Washington Nationals camp, he may already have cemented this award. (Keep an eye on: Tom Gordon, Phillies).
My 2005 preseason pick: Eric Gagne, Dodgers: Right elbow surgery ended his season in July after only 14 appearances and eight saves.
YOU DON'T SAY: "I'll probably be in the bathroom throwing up."
-- Cleveland's Travis Hafner on what he'll do when the Chicago White Sox receive their World Series rings before the two teams play Tuesday.
SHORT HOPS: The Bay Area has Barry Bonds, Cincinnati has Pete Rose. The banished hits king lectured at Cincinnati's Moeller High School last week and a crowd of approximately 600 people showed up to listen. Rose said, among other things, that he would punish players on steroids only if they were proven to have used it in the past two years. Can't wait to hear Bonds' take on Rose. ... So much for projecting trades: Brandon Phillips, considered the key to the deal when the Indians sent Bartolo Colon to Montreal in 2002, failed to beat out Ramon Vasquez for a backup infielder's spot and was told he'd be traded. Cliff Lee (18-4 in 2005) and Sizemore (.289, 22, 81) were considered throw-in's to that deal.
