Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

The Cubs are very excited about the arrival of Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. I think getting Fukudome acclimated to American baseball will be helped greatly by the fact that Lou Piniella was also the manager for Ichiro's first year in the states... What were the Cardinals thinking giving Juan Gonzalez a Spring Training invitation? Do they just want to thumb their noses at the anti-steroid folks? Organizationally -what is the upside? Even if Juan Gone has a great spring where do the Cards play him? Wouldn't that roster spot (assuming Juan Gone makes the team - which is a big assumption and one I'd be willing to bet a ton of dough against) be better off going to top outfield prospect prospect Colby Rasmus?... Maybe the biggest question facing the Cubs going into Spring Training will be "who is the closer?" Kerry Wood looks like the favorite. It could well be that the NL Central is won by the team with the most consistent closer between the Brewers with Eric Gagne and the the Cubs with either Wood or Bobby Howry. Think about it - 2 or 3 blown saves either way could really be the difference. Thank God the Red Sox have Papelbon... I'm predicting the Arizona will win the NL West. They have some real good young players who should have the energy for a long season and with Brandon Webb, Randy Johnson and Dan Haren as their top 3 starters - how can they lose?... If your fantasy baseball league doesn't penalize for strikeouts - the the Diamondbacks Mark Reynolds may be a good later round sleeper pick to fill your 3rd base needs. He projects to be both the Opening Day starter at 3rd base and the cleanup hitter. That means he should get plenty of RBI opportunities and should hit 25-35 HR. I will go so far as to say that if Mark Reynold proves to be a bona fide clean-up hitter (30 HR and 100 RBI) that not only will the Diamondbacks win the NL West - the will win the NL Pennant (as long as 2 of their top 3 starters are healthy going into the playoffs)...