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Just Catching Up On Baseball This Week

It's been very quiet on the baseball front. Does that mean a storm is brewing?

There could be big trouble for the state of Arizona. The state legislature adjourned without taking action on the proposals made to keep the Chicago Cubs training in Mesa. Proposals were made to tax rental cars and/or the spring training game tickets of all clubs training in Arizona. Phoenix already has some of the highest rental car rates in the country. Baseball executives including Commish Bud Selig has opposed the ticket tax idea. Now the state of Florida has the opportunity to swoop in and scoop the Cubbies from Arizona. Will it happen? Stranger things have taken teams away before. Stay tuned.

On the field, we've seen the Texas Rangers banish Chris Davis to the minor leagues in favor of Justin Smoak. They also got tired of Jarrod Saltalamacchia's anemic bat and inability to stay healthy and invited him to straighten out his problems in their minor league system as well. Max Ramirez will get his chance to show he belongs in the big leagues. I'm not sure he does. We'll see.

I still see holes in Chin-Soo Choo's swing. He is getting impatient at the plate. I know I know. I see his average, but he's lunging at pitches and isn't taking pitchers deep enough in counts.

The Orioles aren't as bad as their record would indicate. Ask most scouts and they'll tell you they would take any number of the young players off the Orioles hands. Sort of what the Birds did to the Mariners. Brian Matusz is one heckofapitcher. But if you've been with me from the beginning, I've said that all along.

I don't like Andrew McCutchen hitting 3rd in the Pirates order. His swing is getting longer as he's looking to have that two homer game every day. He had a shorter, crisper approach at the top of the order. He has, however, given Garrett Jones some relief. Jones is seeing more fastballs. True relief for the Pirates could be on the way in the name of Pedro Alverez.

I've said it before. Kelly Johnson is the real deal. No, he may not continue to jack the ball out of the park, but he makes outstanding contact.

Have you ever seen Joe Mauer take a pitch to left field? It's a thing of beauty. It really is.

Jake Fox behind the plate? It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I believe in his bat.

Would you rather have Francisco Liriano, David Price or Jaime Garcia? Those are three very, very good pitchers that not many people targeted at the start of the season.

Lou Marson may have more to do with when Carlos Santana is summoned from AAA Columbus than Carlos Santana. Marson is really scuffling. Now let's see here.. Marson is an anemic hitter and really not showing any defense behind the plate, Jason Knapp was injured when they got him and had shoulder problems and
Carlos Carrasco is still not ready for Prime Time. All the Tribe gave up was Cliff Lee. What am I missing here?

The Twins seem to do everything right.

Robbie Cano. I can't get it out of my mind. There he was on the list of CDM Diamond Challenge players. I knew he was my man. I knew he would bring great value with HR, R and RBI. Did I take him? Would I ask that if you didn't already know the answer? I've already dumped a bunch of players. By the way, I didn't take him.
I don't listen to my own advice sometimes.

How bout those saves for Mr. Broxton? I think I mentioned that a few weeks ago. Things have sure gotten brighter in Los Angeles since I first wrote that, haven't the? And no, I don't think it's one bit classy to call out Matt Kemp publicly. That's something for the manager's office. How about calling yourself out Mr. Colletti. I believe you put together the pitching staff, correct?

What would happen if the Giants woke up and got themselves a bat? Imagine what would happen. Just one more bat with that pitching. And I don't mean Buster Posey. What am I missing here about what they're missing? Don't they see that? Didn't they see that over the winter?

Dave Duncan has done for Brad Penny what no other pitching coach has ever done. He's a magician. Duncan that is. Can Penny do it for an entire season?

How does Orlando Hudson stay on the Free Agent market so long every year? Wouldn't every team (with the exception of a few) benefit from having Hudson? Yet he has to fight for a contract every off- season.

Adam LaRoche is really hitting well and as we indicated before the season started, he and Kelly Johnson could be real sleepers. I know that Andy LaRoche is off to a good start as well. Don't bet the ranch on him.

My feature on my Rotowire minor league prospect column next week will be Jake Arrieta of the Baltimore Orioles system. I hope you stop by and give it a read. Until then, stay quiet my friends. You may wake up Jhonny Peralta.