May 17
Some random thoughts from a big-time baseball fan...

Sitting here in Florida, enjoying the sunshine and the college hoops offseason, I love baseball! Don't tell me there's any truth to rumors about a baseball strike. I don't want to hear any talk of a strike. Are you kidding me? Come on now, this can't happen. I hope the union and the owners come together and get real ... make a deal! The last thing baseball needs is another strike. I think back to 1994, when the World Series was cancelled, and how terrible that was. A strike would set the game back.

I don't want to hear any talk of a strike. Are you kidding me? Come on now, this can't happen. I hope the union and the owners come together and get real.

Let me tell you, if baseball suffers through more labor problems and there is a stoppage, they lose me. I won't write out my check for my Devil Rays season tickets! Done and forgotten, baby! I pray it doesn't become a reality.

Watching the highlights of the Rangers and White Sox on Wednesday night, I can't believe Alex Rodriguez was thrown out of that game. The umpire has to use judgment. A-Rod dove into first, made a play, got up to question a call and stumbled into the umpire and he gets thrown out.

This super kid has such a great image, and it bothered him to be ejected. By the way, the Rangers are making a bit of a run. Chan Ho Park is back, and if Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez can return to the lineup healthy, and if Jeff Zimmerman can come back to the bullpen to join Hideki Irabu, Texas can make some noise in the AL West. It will be tough to catch the Mariners, and the Angels have been playing well.

Manager Mike Scioscia is doing a great job with the Angels. Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson have been hot and the pitching staff has been coming through. Anaheim has won 16 of 18.

Hey, what am I doing here, trying to become the next Peter Gammons! There is only one King Peter, and I love his knowledge! He knows the game inside-out and is like a baseball encyclopedia. I love watching Baseball Tonight.

The Royals made a great move hiring Tony Pena as manager. I met him while he was playing with the Pirates when he trained down here in Florida. He was aggressive and played with unbelievable recklessness and tremendous emotion, and I see him as being a great leader. Something tells me he will be special, but it's tough to win big-time when you look at that roster. Mike Sweeney can swing the lumber, and KC has to get Chuck Knoblauch in the leadoff position to get his on-base percentage up there.

I love watching Jim Edmonds playing the field. The Cardinals outfielder keeps making incredible catches!

When you look at early-season disappointments, what's going on with the Cubs? Moises Alou is still going through his own version of spring training after missing so much time due to injury. That lineup has to get rolling or manager Don Baylor could be in some trouble.

Another disappointment, even though the club has improved under manager Clint Hurdle, is Colorado. Just look at the talent there -- the record should be better, though the division is pretty tough.

The Phillies have been a disaster early compared to last season's surprising success. Manager Larry Bowa has to be frustrated. The Mets, when you look at the lineup with Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn, Roger Cedeno and Jeromy Burnitz coming in, joining Mike Piazza, are also not performing as well as expected. You would expect them to be more potent.

A few surprises include the Reds and Pirates. Boy, I love the young outfield of Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Juan Encarnacion. Hey, wait till Ken Griffey Jr. comes back and manager Bob Boone will have quite a lineup at his disposal!

Then there's Boston. I saw the Red Sox in Baltimore early this season. Going through the clubhouse, I could tell that there was a positive feeling. Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry -- this team is playing together. Last year was a nightmare with Carl Everett in the clubhouse. You can feel the camaraderie now. Guys seem to be more relaxed and playing better under manager Grady Little. The new management has made some positive changes as well. Johnny Damon has been dynamite in center field and Derek Lowe has been a pleasant surprise as a starter. Pedro Martinez is back healthy; just ask the Mariners, a team he dominated last week on ESPN!

Then again, it's still May. Come see me in September, when the Yankees will be lurking. Baseball thoughts from a fan, baby! That's why the word strike should only be used on the field!