With Spring Training less than a month away, where does Johan Santana stand? Trade rumors ping-pong around, with Santana a candidate to go to Seattle, New York (Yankees or Mets), and of course, Boston.
Santana's a terrific pitcher, and no doubt soon to cause more inflation than Central Bankers on speed, as he negotiates a long-term contract of staggering proportions...approaching the GDP of Lower Slobovia.
As for our friendly neighbors to the south, the Yankees, they're in, they're out, then in, then out, and now in again. Phil Hughes (talent), Melky Cabrera (OR - overrated), and ABK (any body but Ian Kennedy). Hughes has shown flashes, and Kennedy an undersized right-hander with one major league win. You'd think that the Bombers were offering the sun, the moon, and the stars for their Cy Young winner. More like one of Jupiter's moons, and some comets to be named later.
I don't think that either the Red Sox or the Yankees want Santana as much as they don't want the other to have him. "If I can't have him, then you can't either." It's really the Texas Cheerleader Murder plot done in cellphone and pinstripes.
Yes, we all realize that part of a success minor league system is the development of players for trade. Somehow that feels like the movie 'Alien' where our young are used to nurture future space monsters. Now we don't know whether our'n like Ellsbury, Lester, and so on will do it season after season, and someday earn those fat contracts that we can only fantasize about.
But I hope that when the paint dries on the offseason artistry, that our youth and inexperience have a chance to nurture in baseball's Athens instead of Frostbite Falls. It's not exactly Sophie's Choice for Theo Epstein, but keeping a plethora of bargain youngsters under your control allows for immense flexibility, and allows for high priced mistakes.
"Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Ping Pong / Table Tennis Camp for Kids
Sponsored by Harlingen Parks and Recreation and
Harlingen Table Tennis Club
Saturday AUG. 2, 2008 9 A.M. TO 12 Noon
Harlingen Community Center 201 E. Madison
For Boys and Girls Ages 8-13
Beginners and Intermediate Players
To Reserve Slot Call Esmeralda Martinez at 956-428-5020
Registration Fee $25.00 Payable day of Camp/Clinic
From: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Coaching by USATT National Coach and
Instructors Assistant
Come prepared to play with T-Shirt, Shorts and Tennis Shoes.
Paddles will be available or can be purchased on the day of the camp
STUDENTS WILL BE SHOWN HOW TO:
Beginners: Intermediates:
Grip the racket Forehand Topspin Serve
Demonstrate the open and closed racket positions Backhand Topspin Serve
Demonstrate the two most used racket grips Students will learn how to do Multiball
Explaining Color Red/FH & Black BH Learning the Rules of Doubles
Hand/Eye Co-ordination, Control a ball on a racket Forehand Push
Forehand/Backhand/Combination, bouncing the ball on racket Backhand Push
Relays Bouncer Ready Forehand & Backhand Serves
Ready Position Introduction Backhand Sidespin Serve
Brush the ball properly using a FH topspin Forehand & Backhand Block
Brush the ball properly using a BH topspin Serve and Service Return:
Footwork Topspin - Topspin
Execute a proper side to side movement without a racket Backspin - Backspin
Service position FH & BH topsin Introduction Singles Match
Forehand/Backhand positions stane Doubles Match
Learning the Rules of Singles
Learn Social Skills:
Social skills are those communication skills that build positive feelings and help a partnership or group complete its task. A few social skill examples are: encouragement, courtesy, helpfulness, and active listening. Shaking the hand of an opponent after a game, fair play during a game are just a few of the examples of standard table tennis etiquette.
Post a Comment