Here is the rundown for the Wednesday, April 11th edition of Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner:
(All Times Eastern)
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Mel Antonen, USA Today
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Bill Brown, Broadcaster, Houston Astros
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Bob Elliott, Toronto Sun
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Tommy Hutton, Broadcaster, Florida Marlins
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Sean McAdam, Providence Journal (Red Sox Beat)
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News (Rangers Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Antonen discussed the National League East. He analyzed the opening struggles of the Phillies, but thinks their offense can find it’s swing and get back into the race similar to last year. He feels the Mets pitching will improve when Pedro returns but the Braves are the team to beat this year. Brown discussed the change in the Astros closer from Brad Lidge to Dan Wheeler and that the change is not necessarily permanent if Lidge returns to form. Elliott reviewed Toronto’s performance thus far this season. Hutton talked about how he doesn’t expect the Marlins to experience a “sophomore slump" this year, and that the infield defense and pitching is solid. He also touched on the closer situation and how the Marlins are being very careful with Josh Johnson so not cause long-term damage by rushing him back into action. McAdam discussed the Fenway debut of Daisuke Matsuzaka this evening and Matsuzaka’s intense effort to fit in with the club, learn English, and handle the intense Boston media. He and Charley also discussed Matsuzaka's potential to become the future Boston ace. Grant talked about Eric Gagne’s pending return and how he is expected to return as a dominant closer. He also talked about how Sammy Sosa looks as if he is getting back into form but it is far too early to be able to judge if he can consistently contribute in the Majors again.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Baseball Beat: Tuesday, April 10th
Here is the rundown for the Tuesday, April 10th edition of Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner.
(all times Eastern)
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Joe Strauss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Cardinals Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Bill Plunkett, OC Register (Angels Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Tyler Kepner, New York Times (Yankees Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal (Indians Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Ratto discussed the lack of hitting on the A’s and how Shannon Stewart, Eric Chavez, and Bobby Crosby need to get going and be consistent hitters again for the A’s to have a chance to compete in the AL West. He and Charley also discussed how the SF Giants just simply look old and that it seems this year, teams are not afraid of Bonds and are pitching to him aggressively. Strauss discussed Chris Carpenter and how impingement and arthritis is very vague and the club should clarify the injury. He also discussed the success of Braden Looper thus far and how the team just needs to find their swing again and get rolling. Plunkett discussed the relocation of the Angels/Indians series to Milwaukee and how Milwaukee was the last place he expected to be today. He also said that the Indians have it the roughest since they sat around for days not knowing if they would play, and then were told to pack quickly and go on the road. Kepner discussed Carl Pavano’s decent pitching performances thus far. Overall, Tyler thinks that the starting pitching is indeed as shaky as people expected and Phil Hughes may be called up. He updated the condition of Chien-Ming Wang and said that he should be back by May 1st. Finally, Tyler discussed how A-Rod has come around and is the first Yankee in history to hit this many HRs this early and is looking to have a great season. Hagen discussed the Phillies poor start and how the one concern going into the season was the bullpen and that is very much a factor so far. Also, they are not hitting well with runners in scoring position and the starting pitching is performing as well as expected. Ocker discussed the relocation of the Indians home opener to Milwaukee and the the snow fall at Jacobs Field, describing the wintery scene over the weekend and how the Indians will just have to do their best to fight through this early challenge.
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(all times Eastern)
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Joe Strauss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Cardinals Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Bill Plunkett, OC Register (Angels Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Tyler Kepner, New York Times (Yankees Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal (Indians Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Ratto discussed the lack of hitting on the A’s and how Shannon Stewart, Eric Chavez, and Bobby Crosby need to get going and be consistent hitters again for the A’s to have a chance to compete in the AL West. He and Charley also discussed how the SF Giants just simply look old and that it seems this year, teams are not afraid of Bonds and are pitching to him aggressively. Strauss discussed Chris Carpenter and how impingement and arthritis is very vague and the club should clarify the injury. He also discussed the success of Braden Looper thus far and how the team just needs to find their swing again and get rolling. Plunkett discussed the relocation of the Angels/Indians series to Milwaukee and how Milwaukee was the last place he expected to be today. He also said that the Indians have it the roughest since they sat around for days not knowing if they would play, and then were told to pack quickly and go on the road. Kepner discussed Carl Pavano’s decent pitching performances thus far. Overall, Tyler thinks that the starting pitching is indeed as shaky as people expected and Phil Hughes may be called up. He updated the condition of Chien-Ming Wang and said that he should be back by May 1st. Finally, Tyler discussed how A-Rod has come around and is the first Yankee in history to hit this many HRs this early and is looking to have a great season. Hagen discussed the Phillies poor start and how the one concern going into the season was the bullpen and that is very much a factor so far. Also, they are not hitting well with runners in scoring position and the starting pitching is performing as well as expected. Ocker discussed the relocation of the Indians home opener to Milwaukee and the the snow fall at Jacobs Field, describing the wintery scene over the weekend and how the Indians will just have to do their best to fight through this early challenge.
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I am in Los Angeles this week. I was the on-site producer for Monday's special Opening Day Edition of The Show with Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy from Dodger Stadium. I'll be here through next Monday as Home Plate will have a special Jackie Robinson Day Edition of The Show on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Special thanks to Associate Producer Ian Spring for updating the blog this week following Baseball Beat.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Baseball Beat: Friday, April 6th
Here is the rundown for the Friday, April 6th edition of Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Jim Price, Broadcaster, Detroit Tigers
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Denny Matthews, Broadcaster, Kansas City Royals
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Marc Topkin, St. Petersburg Times (Tampa Bay Devil Rays Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Henry Schulman, San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco Giants Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Troy Renck, Denver Post (Colorado Rockies Beat)
2:45 p.m.
Actual Calls from Actual Listeners
Guest Summaries:
Price discussed the loss of Kenny Rogers to the DET starting rotation but how the DET lineup appears to be in good shape to make another run for the Championship if they stay healthy. Matthews talked about Daisuke Matsuzaka’s debut in Kansas City yesterday, Gil Meche’s success on opening day and talked very positively about Alex Gordon’s character and personality but needs to work hard on his offense and defense to be able to put it all together. Topkin discussed the youth on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as well as making the Yankees look like an old team during the opening series in NY. Schulman talked about Zito’s okay opening day outing, Mike Sweeney's trip to the DL, possibilities of an extension for Omar Vizquel, and finally Bonds and how he is amazed at how he can hit and field so well this year. Renck talked about the Rockies’ lineup being very decent, but the pitching being suspect, especially on the road. They also discussed the movement of the ball in Coors Field given altitude and possible changes that could be made to the park to level the playing field.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Jim Price, Broadcaster, Detroit Tigers
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Denny Matthews, Broadcaster, Kansas City Royals
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Marc Topkin, St. Petersburg Times (Tampa Bay Devil Rays Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Henry Schulman, San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco Giants Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Troy Renck, Denver Post (Colorado Rockies Beat)
2:45 p.m.
Actual Calls from Actual Listeners
Guest Summaries:
Price discussed the loss of Kenny Rogers to the DET starting rotation but how the DET lineup appears to be in good shape to make another run for the Championship if they stay healthy. Matthews talked about Daisuke Matsuzaka’s debut in Kansas City yesterday, Gil Meche’s success on opening day and talked very positively about Alex Gordon’s character and personality but needs to work hard on his offense and defense to be able to put it all together. Topkin discussed the youth on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as well as making the Yankees look like an old team during the opening series in NY. Schulman talked about Zito’s okay opening day outing, Mike Sweeney's trip to the DL, possibilities of an extension for Omar Vizquel, and finally Bonds and how he is amazed at how he can hit and field so well this year. Renck talked about the Rockies’ lineup being very decent, but the pitching being suspect, especially on the road. They also discussed the movement of the ball in Coors Field given altitude and possible changes that could be made to the park to level the playing field.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Baseball Beat: Thursday, April 5th
Here is the rundown for the Thursday, April 5th edition of Baseball Beat. Chuck Wilson was in for Charley Steiner, who was traveling with the Los Angeles Dodgers to San Francisco today.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Dayn Perry, FoxSports.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Lyle Spencer, MLB.com (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post (Washington Nationals Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Maury Brown, BizofBaseball.com
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Jim Baumbach, Newsday (New York Yankees Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Perry discussed the fast and slow starts of various teams, Dice-K’s debut today, and Barry Bonds chances of breaking the HR record, as well as debating if race is an issue in the negative stance towards Bonds. Spencer discussed Gary Matthews Jr.’s fast start out of the gate and how it has done wonders to silence the criticism of the past few months. Svrluga talked about the Nats comeback win yesterday, giving Manny Acta his first win as Nationals manager. Brown discussed the MLB/iN DEMAND agreement to carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package on cable and how the owners will make a lot of money through this deal. Smizik discussed the Pirates winning their first games of the season and how they look a lot better than many predicted. Baumbach talked about the blazing start of the Mets, both in starting pitching and at the plate. He also touched on the Yankees and the leg injury of Johnny Damon.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Dayn Perry, FoxSports.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Lyle Spencer, MLB.com (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post (Washington Nationals Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Maury Brown, BizofBaseball.com
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Jim Baumbach, Newsday (New York Yankees Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Perry discussed the fast and slow starts of various teams, Dice-K’s debut today, and Barry Bonds chances of breaking the HR record, as well as debating if race is an issue in the negative stance towards Bonds. Spencer discussed Gary Matthews Jr.’s fast start out of the gate and how it has done wonders to silence the criticism of the past few months. Svrluga talked about the Nats comeback win yesterday, giving Manny Acta his first win as Nationals manager. Brown discussed the MLB/iN DEMAND agreement to carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package on cable and how the owners will make a lot of money through this deal. Smizik discussed the Pirates winning their first games of the season and how they look a lot better than many predicted. Baumbach talked about the blazing start of the Mets, both in starting pitching and at the plate. He also touched on the Yankees and the leg injury of Johnny Damon.
2007 American League Season Preview
by Brent S. Gambill
If 2007 had a theme, it would be the year of the milestones. Barry Bonds chases Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record, Tom Glavine looks to gain his 300th win, Craig Biggio nears 3,000 hits, and a record five players take aim at 500 career home runs in the same season. Besides the individual accomplishments, it’s the teams that are going to keep our attention all season. Whether you’re a Dodgers, Royals, or Blue Jays fan, there is hope for all on Opening Day. Before every season over the last seven years, I’ve put together a preview of the season with my picks for friends and family. This year, I’m making it available via our new blog.
American League East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Yankees have depth and offense similar to previous incarnations of the Red Sox this decade. Comparing the lineups and rotations, I simply have more faith in the pinstripes. The question of the summer will surround Alex Rodriguez contract, but a solid 2007 and any playoff success will turn boos into cheers. No matter what happens, someone else will be signing the checks in 2008. Boston has more questions than a team spending $100+ million in payroll should have. Their rotation on paper looks like a nice fantasy squad, but the reality is no one has a clue what to expect. The bullpen has improved, but could be a problem when Schilling, Beckett, and Wakefield have short outings. Schilling and Wakefield look to decline based on age, and Schilling spring conditioning is troubling. With question marks at second and centerfield, it looks to be a frustrating summer in Boston. Frustrating if you wanted a World Series or division title that is. Toronto shocked many by finishing second in the AL East in 2006. The Blue Jays will again challenge for second, but I see the Red Sox returning to their second place role in the division. The Jays continue to have talent around the field, but the back-end of the rotation is going to cause them fits during Boston and New York series. If A.J. Burnett and Roy Halladay can stay healthy, look for the Toronto to challenge for the Wild Card. As with most years, the Orioles can only improve. While the moves look minor on paper, the bullpen should be much improved and the rotation’s mix of veterans (Jaret Wright and Steve Traschel) and youth (Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera, and Hayden Penn) will be more consistent after a full spring training with pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Last season, many of the young arms were participating in the World Baseball Classic. Nick Markakis looks to make the leap this year and make himself a household name around the game. The Devil Rays have as deep of a minor league system as any team in baseball. This year the patience and fruits of their labor should begin to show on the offensive side of the ball. With Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Delmon Young, and Elijah Dukes in the outfield and designated hitter, the offense can only get better. If B.J. Upton can lock in at second base, he can be the new “nice stick, no glove” Alfonzo Soriano of the position. As has always been the case in Tampa Bay, the Rays simply do not have the pitching to compete and will lose a lot of 10-6 games.
American League Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals
The Tigers made heads turn in 2006, but in the new season I think they’ll put it all together. Jim Leyland has this team on the right track and in the spring they looked to be the best team in baseball. Kenny Rogers’ injury will hurt the rotation, but the depth of young arms will sustain the rotation while he’s out. Andrew Miller may be one of the best future flamethrowers in baseball. If Todd Jones falters in the closer role this year, Joel Zumaya is waiting in the wings. The most underrated move of the off-season has to be the club’s acquisition of Gary Sheffield. As has been case for Sheffield throughout his career, his timing was off as he signed a new extension only weeks before the free agent market skyrocketed. Minnesota is being overlooked by many this spring with changes in the rotation including the loss of Francisco Liriano to injury for the season. I’ll go with the track record of Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire. The rotation is missing the retired Brad Radke and Liriano, but veterans Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson are only holding spots in the rotation until Matt Garza and other young arms are eased into the rotation. Johan Santana was slowly brought along and the Twins will follow the same track with their young pitchers. Any club with Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau as cornerstones will compete. The depth of the division and the poorly conceived unbalanced schedule will cost the club the Wild Card. The Indians have been on the cusp of taking the next step for three years. Is this the year they turn the corner? Not with their questionable bullpen and rotation. The bullpen is not drastically improved from last season. The offense is going to score runs in bunches, but I do not see the arms in the farm system that can make an impact if called upon. The White Sox had one of my favorite off-seasons in baseball. I think the John Danks for Brandon McCarthy trade will be a feather in the cap of General Manager Ken Williams for year’s to come. Williams has become one of the most progressive General Managers in the game for thinking outside the box. The club still raised its payroll from last season, so there are no white flags going up in Chicago this year. Chicago has a lot of players in contract years including Jermaine Dye and Mark Buehrle, but for some reason I think Williams has a plan. Kansas City made a splash in free agency by overpaying for starting pitcher Gil Meche. It was a signal to the fan base and organization that the Royals are a Major League team again. The best move in Kansas City last year was the hiring of Dayton Moore as General Manager. With all respect to Allard Baird, there finally looks to be a long-term commander with a plan in Kansas City. There is a long way to go to respectability, but a road is being paved with Alex Gordon as the new cornerstone of the franchise.
American League West
1. Oakland A’s
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners
Oakland lost Barry Zito and Frank Thomas to free agency, but for a franchise that’s lost more talent this decade than American Idol, I think they’ll manage. The Athletics replaced Frank Thomas with Mike Piazza and Jay Payton with Shannon Stewart. Bobby Crosby, Milton Bradley, and Rich Harden have the chance to have breakout years if they can stay health. If so, Crosby and Harden are MVP and Cy Young contenders. Look for a typical slow start for the A’s, but it’s the enjoyable second half that’s the most fun anyway. The Angels have been the trendy pick this spring. With Jared Weaver and Bartolo Colon slowly returning from injuries and the Gary Matthews, Jr. debacle casting a cloud over the club, I think Anaheim will have a tough time early in the season. Casey Kotchman and other prospects need to reward General Manager Bill Stoneman’s patience by taking the next step in their development. I do think the Angels will have a strong second half and beat out the Red Sox and Twins for the Wild Card on the strength of a weaker division and the unbalanced schedule. The best managerial move of the off-season has to be the Texas Rangers hiring of Ron Washington as manager. Sadly, the same successful moves didn’t translate to the roster. The club is banking its success on Sammy Sosa to fill the middle of the order. He should fill some seats early in the season, but look for him to fade in the second half along with the club. Seattle has been in a terrible tailspin over the last three years. Felix Hernandez is the future of the franchise, so his further development this year will alleviate concerns for the rotation future consistency. Its Ichiro Suzuki’s walk-year, so getting him signed to an extension is integral for the club. In the end, the M’s are not going to be a factor in the AL West.
Playoffs
American League Division Series:
Detroit Tigers
Next week, I'll post my National League Season Preview along with a World Series pick and individual award winners.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA of the WEEK
Best Blog on Baseball: Buster Olney's Blog If you listen to Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner, you've heard this mentioned before. Buster Olney's blog is the best place to start each and every baseball day. If your not reading it daily, you are truly missing your baseball breakfast to get your day started.
If 2007 had a theme, it would be the year of the milestones. Barry Bonds chases Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record, Tom Glavine looks to gain his 300th win, Craig Biggio nears 3,000 hits, and a record five players take aim at 500 career home runs in the same season. Besides the individual accomplishments, it’s the teams that are going to keep our attention all season. Whether you’re a Dodgers, Royals, or Blue Jays fan, there is hope for all on Opening Day. Before every season over the last seven years, I’ve put together a preview of the season with my picks for friends and family. This year, I’m making it available via our new blog.
American League East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Yankees have depth and offense similar to previous incarnations of the Red Sox this decade. Comparing the lineups and rotations, I simply have more faith in the pinstripes. The question of the summer will surround Alex Rodriguez contract, but a solid 2007 and any playoff success will turn boos into cheers. No matter what happens, someone else will be signing the checks in 2008. Boston has more questions than a team spending $100+ million in payroll should have. Their rotation on paper looks like a nice fantasy squad, but the reality is no one has a clue what to expect. The bullpen has improved, but could be a problem when Schilling, Beckett, and Wakefield have short outings. Schilling and Wakefield look to decline based on age, and Schilling spring conditioning is troubling. With question marks at second and centerfield, it looks to be a frustrating summer in Boston. Frustrating if you wanted a World Series or division title that is. Toronto shocked many by finishing second in the AL East in 2006. The Blue Jays will again challenge for second, but I see the Red Sox returning to their second place role in the division. The Jays continue to have talent around the field, but the back-end of the rotation is going to cause them fits during Boston and New York series. If A.J. Burnett and Roy Halladay can stay healthy, look for the Toronto to challenge for the Wild Card. As with most years, the Orioles can only improve. While the moves look minor on paper, the bullpen should be much improved and the rotation’s mix of veterans (Jaret Wright and Steve Traschel) and youth (Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera, and Hayden Penn) will be more consistent after a full spring training with pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Last season, many of the young arms were participating in the World Baseball Classic. Nick Markakis looks to make the leap this year and make himself a household name around the game. The Devil Rays have as deep of a minor league system as any team in baseball. This year the patience and fruits of their labor should begin to show on the offensive side of the ball. With Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Delmon Young, and Elijah Dukes in the outfield and designated hitter, the offense can only get better. If B.J. Upton can lock in at second base, he can be the new “nice stick, no glove” Alfonzo Soriano of the position. As has always been the case in Tampa Bay, the Rays simply do not have the pitching to compete and will lose a lot of 10-6 games.
American League Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals
The Tigers made heads turn in 2006, but in the new season I think they’ll put it all together. Jim Leyland has this team on the right track and in the spring they looked to be the best team in baseball. Kenny Rogers’ injury will hurt the rotation, but the depth of young arms will sustain the rotation while he’s out. Andrew Miller may be one of the best future flamethrowers in baseball. If Todd Jones falters in the closer role this year, Joel Zumaya is waiting in the wings. The most underrated move of the off-season has to be the club’s acquisition of Gary Sheffield. As has been case for Sheffield throughout his career, his timing was off as he signed a new extension only weeks before the free agent market skyrocketed. Minnesota is being overlooked by many this spring with changes in the rotation including the loss of Francisco Liriano to injury for the season. I’ll go with the track record of Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire. The rotation is missing the retired Brad Radke and Liriano, but veterans Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson are only holding spots in the rotation until Matt Garza and other young arms are eased into the rotation. Johan Santana was slowly brought along and the Twins will follow the same track with their young pitchers. Any club with Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau as cornerstones will compete. The depth of the division and the poorly conceived unbalanced schedule will cost the club the Wild Card. The Indians have been on the cusp of taking the next step for three years. Is this the year they turn the corner? Not with their questionable bullpen and rotation. The bullpen is not drastically improved from last season. The offense is going to score runs in bunches, but I do not see the arms in the farm system that can make an impact if called upon. The White Sox had one of my favorite off-seasons in baseball. I think the John Danks for Brandon McCarthy trade will be a feather in the cap of General Manager Ken Williams for year’s to come. Williams has become one of the most progressive General Managers in the game for thinking outside the box. The club still raised its payroll from last season, so there are no white flags going up in Chicago this year. Chicago has a lot of players in contract years including Jermaine Dye and Mark Buehrle, but for some reason I think Williams has a plan. Kansas City made a splash in free agency by overpaying for starting pitcher Gil Meche. It was a signal to the fan base and organization that the Royals are a Major League team again. The best move in Kansas City last year was the hiring of Dayton Moore as General Manager. With all respect to Allard Baird, there finally looks to be a long-term commander with a plan in Kansas City. There is a long way to go to respectability, but a road is being paved with Alex Gordon as the new cornerstone of the franchise.
American League West
1. Oakland A’s
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners
Oakland lost Barry Zito and Frank Thomas to free agency, but for a franchise that’s lost more talent this decade than American Idol, I think they’ll manage. The Athletics replaced Frank Thomas with Mike Piazza and Jay Payton with Shannon Stewart. Bobby Crosby, Milton Bradley, and Rich Harden have the chance to have breakout years if they can stay health. If so, Crosby and Harden are MVP and Cy Young contenders. Look for a typical slow start for the A’s, but it’s the enjoyable second half that’s the most fun anyway. The Angels have been the trendy pick this spring. With Jared Weaver and Bartolo Colon slowly returning from injuries and the Gary Matthews, Jr. debacle casting a cloud over the club, I think Anaheim will have a tough time early in the season. Casey Kotchman and other prospects need to reward General Manager Bill Stoneman’s patience by taking the next step in their development. I do think the Angels will have a strong second half and beat out the Red Sox and Twins for the Wild Card on the strength of a weaker division and the unbalanced schedule. The best managerial move of the off-season has to be the Texas Rangers hiring of Ron Washington as manager. Sadly, the same successful moves didn’t translate to the roster. The club is banking its success on Sammy Sosa to fill the middle of the order. He should fill some seats early in the season, but look for him to fade in the second half along with the club. Seattle has been in a terrible tailspin over the last three years. Felix Hernandez is the future of the franchise, so his further development this year will alleviate concerns for the rotation future consistency. Its Ichiro Suzuki’s walk-year, so getting him signed to an extension is integral for the club. In the end, the M’s are not going to be a factor in the AL West.
Playoffs
American League Division Series:
- New York Yankees over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 3-1
- Detroit Tigers over Oakland A’s, 3-1
- Detroit Tigers over New York Yankees, 4-2
Detroit Tigers
Next week, I'll post my National League Season Preview along with a World Series pick and individual award winners.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA of the WEEK
Best Blog on Baseball: Buster Olney's Blog If you listen to Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner, you've heard this mentioned before. Buster Olney's blog is the best place to start each and every baseball day. If your not reading it daily, you are truly missing your baseball breakfast to get your day started.
Clips to Click: Two Articles by Jack Curry of the New York Times:
- Artifacts Tied to Steroids Find Place in Hall’s Museum
- To Tighten Drug Tests, Baseball Teams Secretly Monitor Players
Baseball Book of the Week:
- The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America by Joe Posnanski
Book of the Week:
- The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century 2.0 (Updated and Expanded) by Thomas L. Friedman
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If you are interested in more frequent postings about Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner, please save a link for Baseball Beat: the Blog and check it for daily updates. Feel free to drop me a line anytime at BaseballBeat@xmradio.com.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Baseball Beat: Wednesday, April 4th
Here is the rundown for the Wednesday, April 4th edition of Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Rick Hummel, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Anthony McCarron, New York Daily News
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Ken Rosenthal, XM MLB Insider; FoxSports.com
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Ted Leitner, Broadcaster, San Diego Padres
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Dave Sims, Broadcaster, Seattle Mariners
Guest Summaries:
Crasnick discussed the start of the baseball season including previews of changes to rosters around the league. He also briefly touched on the New York Mets’ Orlando Hernandez encouraging success last night in St. Louis; Hummel discussed the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Night as well as Chris Carpenter’s achy elbow and Braden Looper’s first start tonight; McCarron discussed the New York Yankees dinner last night including his first person accounts on George Steinbrenner, Bobby Murcer, and the new line of succession on account of the Swindal divorce; Rosenthal discussed the future sale of the Chicago Cubs and how it affects Carlos Zambrano’s contract negotiations. There was also a discussion about the reports of Bud Selig’s salary which Ken and Charley agreed was well deserved. He also discussed his report on the San Diego Padres discussions about whether they will try to extend Mike Cameron’s contract or not; Leitner discussed the perks of being a broadcaster including a nice story about the Rolling Stones and David Wells as well as a debate about the extensive length of spring training. He also discussed the San Diego Padres including Greg Maddux; Sims discussed his first broadcasts in his new position as broadcaster with the Seattle Mariners. There was also a discussion about the Mariners’ early season success including Felix Hernandez.
I've received some reader e-mails about adding a tentative guest list and rundown before Baseball Beat daily. If you are interested in the pre-show rundown being available on the blog daily, please drop me a line on BaseballBeat@xmradio.com.
If you visit www.stayhot.proboards52.com or www.xmlm.xmfan.com/viewforum.php?f=39 (a.k.a. www.xmfan.com), please post a link to the new xm blog MLBonXM.blogspot.com and BrentSGambill.blogspot.com.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Rick Hummel, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Anthony McCarron, New York Daily News
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Ken Rosenthal, XM MLB Insider; FoxSports.com
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Ted Leitner, Broadcaster, San Diego Padres
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Dave Sims, Broadcaster, Seattle Mariners
Guest Summaries:
Crasnick discussed the start of the baseball season including previews of changes to rosters around the league. He also briefly touched on the New York Mets’ Orlando Hernandez encouraging success last night in St. Louis; Hummel discussed the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Night as well as Chris Carpenter’s achy elbow and Braden Looper’s first start tonight; McCarron discussed the New York Yankees dinner last night including his first person accounts on George Steinbrenner, Bobby Murcer, and the new line of succession on account of the Swindal divorce; Rosenthal discussed the future sale of the Chicago Cubs and how it affects Carlos Zambrano’s contract negotiations. There was also a discussion about the reports of Bud Selig’s salary which Ken and Charley agreed was well deserved. He also discussed his report on the San Diego Padres discussions about whether they will try to extend Mike Cameron’s contract or not; Leitner discussed the perks of being a broadcaster including a nice story about the Rolling Stones and David Wells as well as a debate about the extensive length of spring training. He also discussed the San Diego Padres including Greg Maddux; Sims discussed his first broadcasts in his new position as broadcaster with the Seattle Mariners. There was also a discussion about the Mariners’ early season success including Felix Hernandez.
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I've received some reader e-mails about adding a tentative guest list and rundown before Baseball Beat daily. If you are interested in the pre-show rundown being available on the blog daily, please drop me a line on BaseballBeat@xmradio.com.
If you visit www.stayhot.proboards52.com or www.xmlm.xmfan.com/viewforum.php?f=39 (a.k.a. www.xmfan.com), please post a link to the new xm blog MLBonXM.blogspot.com and BrentSGambill.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Baseball Beat: Tuesday, April 3rd
Here is the rundown for the Tuesday, April 3rd edition of Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Buster Olney, ESPN.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee Brewers Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: David O’Brien, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta Braves Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Gordon Edes, Boston Globe (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hoynes, BBWAA President, The Cleveland Plain-Dealer (Cleveland Indians Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Olney discussed the start of the season including chats about the impact of Steve Swindal’s divorce on the line of succession with the New York Yankees as well as the short term impact on the sale of the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Zambrano’s contract. There was also a discussion about Alex Rodriguez future with the Yankees; Haudricourt discussed the Milwaukee Brewers opening day win behind the dominance of starter Ben Sheets on Monday. He also discussed Prince Fielder as the club’s leader along with the rest of the infield including future star Ryan Braun; O’Brien discussed the Atlanta Braves Opening Day extra innings come from behind win in Philadelphia on Monday. He also discussed how the club’s strong bullpen is going to make a big difference this year; Edes discussed Monday’s Opening Day 7-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. He also chatted about Curt Schilling’s Monday struggles including comments about his contract status and Jonathan Papelbon’s move back to closer; Rogers discussed the sale of the Chicago Tribune as well as potential owners in the re-sale of the Chicago Cubs. He also chatted about his coverage of the Cardinals Opening Night, White Sox on Opening Day, and today at Giants Opening Day; Hoynes discussed the Cleveland Indians Opening Day victory as well as the entertaining story about the spring training snake that slithered across Hoynes computer during a game in Winter Haven.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Buster Olney, ESPN.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee Brewers Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: David O’Brien, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta Braves Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Gordon Edes, Boston Globe (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hoynes, BBWAA President, The Cleveland Plain-Dealer (Cleveland Indians Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Olney discussed the start of the season including chats about the impact of Steve Swindal’s divorce on the line of succession with the New York Yankees as well as the short term impact on the sale of the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Zambrano’s contract. There was also a discussion about Alex Rodriguez future with the Yankees; Haudricourt discussed the Milwaukee Brewers opening day win behind the dominance of starter Ben Sheets on Monday. He also discussed Prince Fielder as the club’s leader along with the rest of the infield including future star Ryan Braun; O’Brien discussed the Atlanta Braves Opening Day extra innings come from behind win in Philadelphia on Monday. He also discussed how the club’s strong bullpen is going to make a big difference this year; Edes discussed Monday’s Opening Day 7-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. He also chatted about Curt Schilling’s Monday struggles including comments about his contract status and Jonathan Papelbon’s move back to closer; Rogers discussed the sale of the Chicago Tribune as well as potential owners in the re-sale of the Chicago Cubs. He also chatted about his coverage of the Cardinals Opening Night, White Sox on Opening Day, and today at Giants Opening Day; Hoynes discussed the Cleveland Indians Opening Day victory as well as the entertaining story about the spring training snake that slithered across Hoynes computer during a game in Winter Haven.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Baseball Beat: Opening Day Edition - Monday, April 2nd
Here is the rundown for the Monday, April 2nd edition of Baseball Beat. Chuck Wilson hosted the show today.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Bob Nightengale, USA Today Sports Weekly
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Michael Silverman, Boston Herald (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Joe Christensen, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Mark Hale, New York Post (New York Mets Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Nightengale discussed Opening Day in Cincinnati including a discussion about the Reds and Chicago Cubs hopes for the new season as well as division previews; Miklasz discussed the St. Louis Cardinal’s Opening night game including last night’s pre-game festivities. He also talked about his piece on the Cardinals outfield problems; Silverman discussed the Boston Red Sox opening day game in Kansas City including comments about Daisuke Matsuzaka; Justice discussed the Houston Astros heading into tonight’s opening game including a discussion about the club; Christensen discussed Hall of Fame broadcasters Herb Carneal’s passing on Sunday as well as the Minnesota Twins opening night game; Hale discussed the New York Mets opening night win against the Cardinals as well as a Mets preview for the season.
Charley Steiner returns to Baseball Beat on Tuesday.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Bob Nightengale, USA Today Sports Weekly
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Michael Silverman, Boston Herald (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Joe Christensen, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Mark Hale, New York Post (New York Mets Beat)
Guest Summaries:
Nightengale discussed Opening Day in Cincinnati including a discussion about the Reds and Chicago Cubs hopes for the new season as well as division previews; Miklasz discussed the St. Louis Cardinal’s Opening night game including last night’s pre-game festivities. He also talked about his piece on the Cardinals outfield problems; Silverman discussed the Boston Red Sox opening day game in Kansas City including comments about Daisuke Matsuzaka; Justice discussed the Houston Astros heading into tonight’s opening game including a discussion about the club; Christensen discussed Hall of Fame broadcasters Herb Carneal’s passing on Sunday as well as the Minnesota Twins opening night game; Hale discussed the New York Mets opening night win against the Cardinals as well as a Mets preview for the season.
Charley Steiner returns to Baseball Beat on Tuesday.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Civil Rights Game
On Saturday, XM Satellite Radio and MLB Home Plate broadcast the Civil Rights Game between the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals with broadcasters Ronnie Lane, Uri Berenguer, and Orestes Destrade live from Memphis, Tennessee. Berenguer and Lane provided play-by-play and Orestes provided insight with a host of guests from the field.
During the pre-game, Orestes spoke with Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro, music legend Patti LaBelle, and Hall of Famer Lou Brock. Interviews with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and Branch Rickey, III were also played.
One of the exciting parts of XM is the freedom we have to skip breaks and give listeners more analysis from the field. During the game (in between innings), Orestes and I were in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians dugout. We had spoke with Cardinals third base coach Jose Oqendo, Scott Spezio, Braden Looper as well as Indians Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia, and Grady Sizemore.
In the post game show, we had an on-field interview with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and Memphis Redbirds President Dave Chase.
Thanks go out to broadcasters Uri Berenguer, Ronnie Lane, and Orestes Destrade as well as our on-site staff on-site producers Brent S. Gambill and Anthony Mendoza, technical director Mike Simpson and his assistant Kevin Simpson., and in-studio associate producer Carlos Nalda.
Plug of the Day: Hope and Faith: How the Atlanta Braves Can Win the World Series by Brent S. Gambill on BaseballProspectus.com
During the pre-game, Orestes spoke with Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro, music legend Patti LaBelle, and Hall of Famer Lou Brock. Interviews with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and Branch Rickey, III were also played.
One of the exciting parts of XM is the freedom we have to skip breaks and give listeners more analysis from the field. During the game (in between innings), Orestes and I were in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians dugout. We had spoke with Cardinals third base coach Jose Oqendo, Scott Spezio, Braden Looper as well as Indians Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia, and Grady Sizemore.
In the post game show, we had an on-field interview with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and Memphis Redbirds President Dave Chase.
Thanks go out to broadcasters Uri Berenguer, Ronnie Lane, and Orestes Destrade as well as our on-site staff on-site producers Brent S. Gambill and Anthony Mendoza, technical director Mike Simpson and his assistant Kevin Simpson., and in-studio associate producer Carlos Nalda.
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Plug of the Day: Hope and Faith: How the Atlanta Braves Can Win the World Series by Brent S. Gambill on BaseballProspectus.com
Friday, March 30, 2007
Baseball Beat: Friday, March 30th
Here is the rundown from Friday, March 30th edition of Baseball Beat. Chuck Wilson hosted the show today.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Scott Miller, CBSSportsline.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Claire Smith, Philadelphia Inquirer
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Amalie Benjamin, Boston Globe (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Kevin Kernan, New York Post
2:45 p.m.
Listener Calls
Guest Summaries:
Miller discussed national headlines including his picks for the upcoming season; Smith discussed this weekend’s Civil Rights Game as well as her involvement with this afternoon’s Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion and the Civil Rights Museum; Benjamin discussed the Boston Red Sox heading into the start of the season including her pieces covering Daisuke Matsuzaka; Hagen discussed the Philadelphia Phillies including the club’s bullpen situation and his piece on minor leaguer Will Savage; Kernan discussed the New York Mets and Yankees coming into the start of the season including Johnny Damon's impact on the Yankees clubhouse. He also had a brief discussion on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after the breaking news that Kenny Rogers had surgery to remove a blood clot today.
On a personal note, I'd like to send out condolences to Charley Steiner whose mother, Gertrude Steiner, passed away on Thursday.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Scott Miller, CBSSportsline.com
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Claire Smith, Philadelphia Inquirer
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Amalie Benjamin, Boston Globe (Boston Red Sox Beat)
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Kevin Kernan, New York Post
2:45 p.m.
Listener Calls
Guest Summaries:
Miller discussed national headlines including his picks for the upcoming season; Smith discussed this weekend’s Civil Rights Game as well as her involvement with this afternoon’s Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion and the Civil Rights Museum; Benjamin discussed the Boston Red Sox heading into the start of the season including her pieces covering Daisuke Matsuzaka; Hagen discussed the Philadelphia Phillies including the club’s bullpen situation and his piece on minor leaguer Will Savage; Kernan discussed the New York Mets and Yankees coming into the start of the season including Johnny Damon's impact on the Yankees clubhouse. He also had a brief discussion on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after the breaking news that Kenny Rogers had surgery to remove a blood clot today.
On a personal note, I'd like to send out condolences to Charley Steiner whose mother, Gertrude Steiner, passed away on Thursday.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Baseball Beat: Thursday, March 29th
Here is the rundown from today's Baseball Beat. Chuck Wilson hosted the show today.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Paul White, USA Today Sports Weekly
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Roch Kubatko, Baltimore Sun (Baltimore Orioles Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Jack Corrigan, Broadcaster, Colorado Rockies
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Bob Klapisch, The Record
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Chris Welsh, Broadcaster, Cincinnati Reds
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Uri Berenguer, Host, Solamente Pelota XM 174
Guest Summaries:
White discussed Japanese baseball as well as previewing the upcoming season; Kubatko discussed the Baltimore Orioles heading into the start of the season including Jay Payton’s injury; Corrigan discussed the Colorado Rockies club and chances in the National League West; Klapisch discussed Hank Steinbrenner as the new heir to take over the New York Yankees, the health of Bobby Murcer, and the Yankees rotation; Welsh discussed the Cincinnati Reds including Ken Griffey’s move to right field as well as Alex Gonzalez; Berenguer discussed hosting Solamente Pelota and the channel’s move to XM 174.
1:05 p.m.
Guest: Paul White, USA Today Sports Weekly
1:25 p.m.
Guest: Roch Kubatko, Baltimore Sun (Baltimore Orioles Beat)
1:45 p.m.
Guest: Jack Corrigan, Broadcaster, Colorado Rockies
2:05 p.m.
Guest: Bob Klapisch, The Record
2:25 p.m.
Guest: Chris Welsh, Broadcaster, Cincinnati Reds
2:45 p.m.
Guest: Uri Berenguer, Host, Solamente Pelota XM 174
Guest Summaries:
White discussed Japanese baseball as well as previewing the upcoming season; Kubatko discussed the Baltimore Orioles heading into the start of the season including Jay Payton’s injury; Corrigan discussed the Colorado Rockies club and chances in the National League West; Klapisch discussed Hank Steinbrenner as the new heir to take over the New York Yankees, the health of Bobby Murcer, and the Yankees rotation; Welsh discussed the Cincinnati Reds including Ken Griffey’s move to right field as well as Alex Gonzalez; Berenguer discussed hosting Solamente Pelota and the channel’s move to XM 174.
Baseball Beat: The Blog - An Introduction
Welcome to the latest addition to the XM Satellite Radio family of products. The blog. MLB Home Plate meets the blog community this week with a host of daily blogs from our MLB on XM staff such as Buck Martinez and Holden Kushner as well as producers and update anchors. Each blog will have its own style, but for the moment let’s consider this blog aptly named Baseball Beat.
I am the producer for Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner. If you are a regular listener of the show, please forgive the redundancy. On Beat, we have six writers, broadcasters, or celebrities as guests each day totaling more than 1,500 guests per year. Our goal is to give listeners a tour around baseball touching on the top stories of the day while discussing as many teams as possible each week. We discuss key articles and breaking news as well as stories that transcend the game.
With this blog, I hope to give you a daily update on Baseball Beat and provide transcripts from key chats. I’ll give my thoughts on important articles and touch on historical baseball topics. I will also highlight writers (beat writers and columnists) and broadcasters that appear frequently on Baseball Beat.
Baseball Beat: The Blog will also provide insight into Home Plate including my time on the road. For example, this weekend I’ll be in Memphis covering the inaugural Civil Rights Game. XM will be originating a broadcast for the game with Ronnie Lane and Uri Berenguer in the booth and Orestes Destrade providing reports from each club’s dugout. I’ll be on the field and in the dugout with Orestes coordinating our coverage for the broadcast. Be sure to check out the broadcast beginning with the pre-game show at 4:30 p.m. (eastern)/1:30 p.m. (pacific) followed by the game at 5:30 p.m. (eastern)/2:30 p.m. (pacific).
Please, consider this as the introduction blog. Charley Steiner has a saying about Baseball Beat each day. “Off to Pluto.” As in once a show is over, it’s off to Pluto. This blog will be out of date as soon as it posts, because like radio shows this blog will evolve over the days and weeks to come. I hope you’ll become a part of our new MLB on XM online community. Feel free to drop me a line anytime at BaseballBeat@xmradio.com.
Clip to Click: Runs, Hits, and Calories by Karla Cook, New York Times
Book of the Week: Once Upon a Game: Baseball's Greatest Memories by Alan Schwarz
I am the producer for Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner. If you are a regular listener of the show, please forgive the redundancy. On Beat, we have six writers, broadcasters, or celebrities as guests each day totaling more than 1,500 guests per year. Our goal is to give listeners a tour around baseball touching on the top stories of the day while discussing as many teams as possible each week. We discuss key articles and breaking news as well as stories that transcend the game.
With this blog, I hope to give you a daily update on Baseball Beat and provide transcripts from key chats. I’ll give my thoughts on important articles and touch on historical baseball topics. I will also highlight writers (beat writers and columnists) and broadcasters that appear frequently on Baseball Beat.
Baseball Beat: The Blog will also provide insight into Home Plate including my time on the road. For example, this weekend I’ll be in Memphis covering the inaugural Civil Rights Game. XM will be originating a broadcast for the game with Ronnie Lane and Uri Berenguer in the booth and Orestes Destrade providing reports from each club’s dugout. I’ll be on the field and in the dugout with Orestes coordinating our coverage for the broadcast. Be sure to check out the broadcast beginning with the pre-game show at 4:30 p.m. (eastern)/1:30 p.m. (pacific) followed by the game at 5:30 p.m. (eastern)/2:30 p.m. (pacific).
Please, consider this as the introduction blog. Charley Steiner has a saying about Baseball Beat each day. “Off to Pluto.” As in once a show is over, it’s off to Pluto. This blog will be out of date as soon as it posts, because like radio shows this blog will evolve over the days and weeks to come. I hope you’ll become a part of our new MLB on XM online community. Feel free to drop me a line anytime at BaseballBeat@xmradio.com.
MEDIA of the WEEK
Clip to Click: Runs, Hits, and Calories by Karla Cook, New York Times
Book of the Week: Once Upon a Game: Baseball's Greatest Memories by Alan Schwarz
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