Odd Thoughts

Marlins and White Sox and Astros, Oh My!

I have a new idea for the Marlins that could possibly stave off relocation. Just have them switch leagues with the Devil Rays. The Devil Rays would get out of the death trap in the AL East, and they would have much better shot of taking the field in the NL East sometime in the next five years. The Marlins, on the other hand, would have an increase in local interest and revenue by having the Red Sox and Yankees come into town 20 times a year. It might even generate enough interest for the people of Miami to pony up with a stadium deal. But maybe it wouldn't and the Marlins would be out the door, but where too? Las Vegas? San Antonio? Portland? All three are possibilities. So if they go to one of those towns, could you still leave them in the NL East, and if they left the NL East, what other NL division could you put them in without radically realigning the whole league? But if they were in the American League and they moved west, you just stick them in the AL West, and let that division have five teams, and keep it at just four teams in the AL East. What's wrong with this idea?

The White Sox just absolutely stole Javier Vazquez. They gave up Orlando Hernandez, Luis Vizcaino, and an outfield prospect named Chris Young. I'm sure the prospect was the blue-chipper in the trade, but the fact is, the White Sox made what was already the best starting rotation in baseball even better. They now have five guys with almost no injury histories, a minimum of four years of major league experience, and all in the middle of their primes. If this group fails to log 1,000 innings pitched I'll be very surprised. I know the Twins and Indians intend to be much better in 2006, but it looks to me like they'll be vying for the wild card because the Sox will repeat as AL Central Champions.

Meanwhile the Astros are doing nothing, unless you consider talking to Rondell White something. I could go on about the Astros, but I cannot understand why the Astros are not making big moves to improve themselves this winter. Their 2005 payroll was already presumably $15 million below expectations as a result of missing out on Carlos Beltran, and now, the budget will be lighter by another $18 million without Roger Clemens. The Cardinals should still win this division, but I think they're coming back to earth and could be beaten by the Astros, if the Astros wanted to make it happen. I know the Astros Like Chris Burke and Jason Lane and Willy Tavares, and their all good players, but none of them are going to become great stars. I can understand why they didn't pursue Paul Konerko, but there's no reason they shouldn't have pursued Rafael Furcal. There's no reason for them to not be calling Johnny Damon, and they ought to be on the horn right now trying to land Miguel Tejada. If they were to make one of those moves, then signing Rondell White would be a nice compliment, but right now, it looks like the Astros are content to win 89 games a year, which may or may not (probably not) get them back to the playoffs