1. The Yankees will drop two of three to the Tigers at Comerica Park, with Kei Igawa picking up the lone victory tonight in his 2008 major-league debut. On Saturday night, following the game, Jose Molina will recommend that a group of players go see "Iron Man," but Joba Chamberlain will shake off Molina three times and insist on seeing "Made of Honor." Bad things will ensue.
2. The Mets will take two of three from Cincinnati at Shea Stadium. The Reds Ken Griffey Jr. will hit his 598th career homer on Saturday, then pine for a return for Seattle in his post-game conference, then wonder on Sunday what all the fuss over his comments was about.
3. Alex Rodriguez, rehabilitating his strained right quad in Tampa, will drive by a hospital and instantly faint.
4. The highly disappointing Mariners will get swept by the White Sox, despite a total of 10 hits in three games by Miguel Cairo. Seattle will fire manager John McLaren and replace him with his predecessor Mike Hargrove, going with the philosophy that every good manager has a good nickname.
5. The rationalization comes after reading David Lennon's Mets Insider on Aaron Heilman: It's not good that Heilman has switched from the Mets' eighth-inning pitcher to their sixth-inning guy. But on the bright side, he's moving closer to his eventual goal of pitching in the first inning.
Comments (10)
Ken-I think that there is a possibility that you are the only true believer left in Mr Igawa's ability to pitch at this level. I hope that he rewards your confidence this weekend. I also wish all the hard working Mothers out there a very happy Mothers' Day.
Matsui will extend his hitting streak! I love it! I hope he takes it all the way to the Heinz 57 varieties commercial.
Ken - nice idea on the Elton video... Bay City Rollers next?
No Ken Griffey to the Yankees in 2 weeks rumor?
My prediction...Girardi will show Joba films of Brad "the Animal" Lesley's strikeout celebrations, along with Nolan Ryan's mock salute after a K vs. the reds.
Fast forward to late January 2009. The 2008 season is but a memory. Kei Igawa has put together a 13-win season, going 13-3 with a 2.75 ERA to help NY win an unlikely wild card playoff berth. At the annual BBWAA dinner, Ken is on the dais in his tux to make a short speech in Japanese and to present Igawa with the Toast of the Town Award. The crowd gives them both a standing ovation while a highlight video shows Igawa striking out Ramirez three times in a game at Fenway while Ken pumps his fist in the air in the press box and fellow writers congratulate him. Several teams contact Ken in the off-season to ask if he is willing to sign on as a roving pitching consultant. He hires Scott Boras to negotiate a five year $17.5 million deal.
It's a nice scenario, but if he hires Boras, Ken might wind up sitting out for a year
Ken -
Drop the predictions...they were woeful last week.
Kerry
Hackensack NJ
Ken - After seeing Igawa's performance tonight you better not take the Japanese lessons after all. Looks like no award for Igawa this year unless it's at SWB.
Hey Ken - you have been way off base over your last 3 predictions. If you predicting Yankee losses brings them wins I'm all for it.
Hey Ken.
Nice predictions, especially on the Mets results. Although, game 2 yesterday was clearly a 'throw away' game. If Randolph was planning on sitting Alou in one of the games, why not game 1; did you see how many second stringers were starting the nightcap? My patience with Willie is wearing thin.
Oh, one prediction left off the list: MLB discovers Kei Igawa takes PIDs (performance impeding drugs).
~Howard
Willie clearly went with the all-out effort to win Game 1, Howard. He essentially conceded the split. I agree with you there. I can't say that bothered me terribly, but I can understand if you feel differently.
LOL on Igawa and the PIDs. That's the best explanation I've heard yet.