Ken Davidoff's baseball insider

1. Wear a blue or dark gray suit, white shirt and red tie for Sunday night.

2. You are on the mark with your A-Rod analysis. He's not just any player; talent-wise or salary-wise and expectations for him are different. That said, no player should be leaving before the end of the game unless sick or injured. That much is obvious.

Ken, sorry if this is an old question that was already answered, but...

According to Keith Law, the A's got back a second baseman who, "in a perfect world," could be a "solid-to-average offensive second baseman with an average glove," a lefty reliever who projects as a lefty specialist, and a left-handed power hitter who more than likely will not make the majors.

So -- were the Yankees in on Blanton and do you have any idea what the A's were asking for him from the Yanks?

Blanton isn't a great pitcher, but there's a lot of value in knowing a guy is going to give you a slightly-above-average 200 innings. He's definitely better than Ponson and Rasner. And he's still pretty young.

It seems to me, unless Oakland was demanding something outrageous (which Beane always does with us), that the Yankees could have matched that offer easily. (And without giving up any top prospects.)

A-Rod probably left the All-Star Game early to spend a "Holiday" with Madonna.

Ken, baseball should in force a rule in which no player can leave the stadium after being taken out of the All-Star Game. If they don't like it too bad.
A-Rod doesn't used his noodle ever. He is always concern about his image. Everything he does besides playing baseball has been a disater. Someone needs to tell A-Rod to stop causing trouble for himself because that what he is doing.
Billy Beane probably ask for the moon from Brain Cashman and Cashman back off and said no. The fact that the Phillies got Blanton for 3 minor leagues that were not top prospects was a steal. Beane had a offer from the Reds before the season started that offer more than the Phillies offer, and he turn it down.
Marvin Miller should be in the HOF for his work in making the players union what it is today. His sucessor, Donald Fehr should be consider for the HOF also. He took over after Miller left, and made the union stronger and richer in the process.
Hey JE, when the Yanks aqcuired A-Rod, the Yanks never ask Jeter to switch positions and A-Rod wanted to get out of Texas so badly that he volunteer to play 3rd base. So get your facts right, JE.

I think Cardenas is going to make it and be a good player. Outman could make it, too, as a lefty reliever. Maybe soon. I really wonder how well Blanton will do in Philly's small park. I think Philly had to make the deal, but Beane might be the one who ultimately looks good if Cardenas becomes a regular who can field, hit and run. His numbers look pretty good to me as do the scouting reports on him.

baileywalk, take note that Beane usually sends his pitchers away to the National League (Hudson, Mulder, Haren, Harden, Blanton). He always charges more from the AL clubs. I'll confirm that the Yankees asked about Blanton, but I'm certain that the price would've been higher than what the Phillies paid.

As for Alex, let me argue against myself and try not to get hurt.

There were 2 teams in the 60's with multiple HOF'ers that did not win a series - the Cubs (Williams, Jenkins, Banks - and lots of lobbying for santo) and the Giants (Mays. McCovey, Marichal and Perry). The Cubs collapsed in '69 and the Ginats only played in the '62 series and finished 3nd far too many times. We do not hold their failure to win a series against these players.

As JE mentioned, Mattingly appears to get a free pass from Yankee fans, while Alex is scorned for not being a home grown true Yankee. (perhaps Winfiled fits this category, but his fights with a very unpopular Steinbrenner may have won the fans over to his side) Unfair, but perhaps a reflection that in order to be considered a Yankee as opposed to a Mariner or Ranger, Alex has to have his series spotlight moment.

Ken...the fact that Ortiz and Manny left is almost more ridiculous. They are the odds on favorite to be in the World Series and I guess the game didn't count enough for them!

I mean as a sorta Mets fan, I wanted the National League to win so they could get Game 7 at Shea. And players who are going to be playing in that game couldn't care. That's what is sooooooooooooo frustrating.

I enjoyed reading the comments above and in Ken's earlier post. (Only teasing with you regarding Jeter, Dennis, only teasing.) Baileywalk, you bring up an interesting point. If the price tag for Blanton was not that high, why weren't the Yankees involved in the discussions too? (Of course, had they been, the price tag might have headed north fairly quickly.) Jim, right when I was about to remind you that Ted Lilly was shipped to Toronto, I noticed that you had typed "usually".

However, the one issue that has not been brought up is why Beane traded Blanton when his team is only three games out of the wild card and six away from the Halos. Does this signify that he is conceding or is it more of an indictment (perhaps that's too strong a term, but whatev) of Blanton's starts this year?

Like I said last weekend, Burnett was nowhere close to what the Phillies wanted to spend on a pitcher, plus he could opt out and disappear (which he would because the Phillies certainly wouldn't want to pay that kind of price for him.) That said, the Phillies still need a #2 pitcher unless Myers steps up when he comes back up. It isn't cut in stone he wont. I expect the Phillies to send Eaton down when he comes up, if he's not gone when Blanton arrives today.
JE: The link you wanted me to read about the Rays didn't exist.
ARod is a phony, we all know that. The rest of the players don't like him, he probably realizes that and doesn't want himself in uncomfortable positions. He should have stayed, but does he really care, he probably had other plans. It's a shame his public persona is so bad, because if you talk to anyone in South Florida, he has done a lot of good down there. I don't even know if he does anything good in NYC.

Sandy, I may have goofed. Here it is:
http://vegaswatch.net/2008/03/somebodys-gonna-be-wrong.html

Thanks, Bob. I was kidding about Jeter's "refusal" but do think that MLB continues to send mixed messages about the importance of the ASG. Jeter should be complimented on sticking it out to the bitter end (hey, what about giving props to Youk on the top step, downing a Diet Red Bull even though he had been pulled several innings earlier?) instead of all of us raising holy hell over A-Rod's premature exit.

JE, I cant believe its come to the point that we have to compliment players for staying to watch the end of a game in which they played in. One that may have tremendous significance down the road.

Great job by Jeter for staying to the end in his own home ball park. Great job by Youkalis for staying till the end in a game that may determine whether his team wins the World Series or not. And great job to the rest of coming to work on time.

Bob, you are on to something. I was thinking the same thing (Cubs and Giants) yesterday. Re: Mattingly - Some of the teams he played on weren't very good. A-Rod has played on much better teams the past few years. You are certainly right that A-Rod has to shine in the post-season - at least one time - for fans to consider him true blue.

RG - I think the fans who stayed should have gotten an award - kind of like the Croix de Candlestick of the early 80's given out if you lasted through an extra inning game at that ghastly wine cellar they called a ballpark.

Richie, considering how everyone bitches and moans when a player who wants to play doesn't see any action, and, almost simultaneously kvfetch about a player who DOESN'T want to play DOES, why must we poke A-Rod with our collective pitchforks over this one? Again, the ASG of today is an absolute mess thanks to clashing interests.

Trust me, if we're patient, A-Rod will do something new and creative in a week or two that will allow us to again scream bloody murder.

Bob, since I stayed to the bitter end, I'll forego the trip to the wine cellar and just settle for a good red, complients of Bud S.

Anyone catch Goose Gossage's comments about Joba in the Post today? Gossage said that he still feels that Joba should be in the pen instead of the rotation. He said that the way starters are used today, 5 innings would be the most you can get out of them. I understand what Goose is saying, but the Yanks have put so much time in Joba starting that its not going to happen.

Goose didn't learn his lesson when he shot off his mouth about Joba's fist pumping. Now we know why Goose isn't a manager. It's a good thing he lives in Colorado where no one pays any attention to what he says. Most people around baseball realize that Joba should be a starter and has the potential to be a very good one. Goose likes to pump up the importance of the bullpen. He must be insecure, even after being elected to the HOF.

Goose is probably having flashbacks to when he started in 1976 for the White Sox and went 9-17 (he started 29 games and completed 15!).

It could be worse...we could be having a Manny watch like Boston ,,,a link from Dave Pinto at Baseball Musings..

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/07/report_manny_fi.html

I remember very well how many saves Goose blew because he pitched too long in games. Joba can throw 110-120 pitches already, his problem is they are in 5 innings. When he learns to pitch, he will pitch 7-8 innings and dominate. Farnsworth and Reyes haven't been awful and Burney is on the way back to the team soon.
Since the Sawx have tried to get rid of Manny before (with no success) and since Theo Epstein really doesn't like him, for good reason, I can't see how they pick up that option. Ellsbury, Crisp, and Drew need to play everyday and there is plenty of talent down below.

The Sox are preparing the fans for Manny's departure. John Henry's personal offense was priceless - after all, commodities traders are known for their morals.

Despite the vitirol, Manny's exit is a good business decision, as it worked before with the departure of Pedro, Lowe and Damon. Why pay Manny $ 20 million when you have the 2009 outfielders already avaialble and a solid farm system?

Sandy, you are right, but you mean Veras not Reyes.

I give the odds as 65-35 that Manny isn't back in Boston.

If the Red Sox let Manny Ramirez go at the end of the season, it would not surprise me if he sign with the Yanks. Just think how the uproar will be like if Manny was let go by the Red Sox and sign with Yanks. I know he's 36 and probably in the decline, and I doubt the Yanks will sign him. But it would make the rivialry interesting.

When did Joba become a five-inning pitcher? He's made six starts after being allowed to go 100 pitches or more and went more than five innings in five of them. And he's still on a strict pitch count, which is hampering his ability to go deep into games more than anything else.

Goose Gossage = Gary Carter? Wow, go figure!

By the way, will someone educate me on why Wade Boggs wore a Yankee hat (and, unlike Carter and Winfield, ONLY a Yankee hat?) to the ASG ceremony? Isn't that akin to Joe Morgan being honored as a Phillie?

Coco may be the best defensive centerfielder in the game but I am pretty sure that the Sox don't envision an Opening Day 2009 outfield consisting of Crisp, Drew, and Ellsbury. That is not to say that Manny will be back but there has to be a viable alternative.

Dennis, as Ken likes to say: Pay attention. There is no chance Manny signs with the Yankees. They passed on him a long time ago for good reason. He comes from Washington Heights and still has lots of friends in that neighborhood. He'd be too distracted. (Is that a nice way of putting it?) His hair is about 3 feet longer than Yankee policy dictates and his uniform is so big that there's enough material to create about 3 uniforms. Plus, he's on the downside of his career. But,most importantly, Cashman wants the team to get younger, he wants payroll flexibility, he wants guys that can play the field now and in the future and he doesn't want an unreformed trouble-maker.

baileywalk: Excellent point. Joba is good now. The starter-reliever debate is over. Gossage keeps making a fool of himself. It's sad to see because I liked him as a player and most fans love him. If the press wants good quotes on a slow day I guess all you have to do is call up Goose.

Goose is one of the best guys I've ever met - genuine, salt of the earth - and he's not shy about his opinions. But look - as a few of you has said, it's not like he's studying baseball trends. He's just speaking from the heart. Which is great, but which also has limited value.

Will anyone be offended if I don't do an "Instant Trade Analysis" of Tony Clark to the Diamondbacks? ;)

Yeah, why bother, since DePodesta has already done it on his blog! Have fun on Sunday night, by the way. Jim's right: whatever you do, don't wear the puffy shirt!

Sandy, did the link work this time?

My feeling is Goose is looking at it as how the game is today compare to when he pitched. Goose I'm sure is following baseball carefully. As for Joba, he is improving after each started. Somtimes he would have an ininng in which he throws 30 or more pitches. And Joba would have the count at 0-2 on a batter and try to strike out the batter which would result in more pitches thrown.

What if the Red Sox let Manny walk - and use $ 15 million or less to trade for and sign the much younger Matt Holliday, who will be a free agent after the 2009 season?

Hoping for another miracle run in late 2008, Colorado discovers too late that the World Series team was a fluke, and decides to rebuild from scratch in the off-season.

If Cashman is still going to build from within and hold onto prospects, the Red Sox could pull this off - who else has the healthy minor league system and can pay about $ 100 million for a 6 year deal?

For whatever it's worth, BaseballMusings.com has updated info, saying that the Red Sox are denying any unhappiness with Manny and that he was not fined six figures for the push. They don't consider his at-bat with Rivera as an issue either.

Goose does seem like a real good guy but also as someone thrilled to have people asking him questions and listening to his answers. It's a sign of intelligence to know when to keep your mouth closed, especially when talking about the organization you treasure the most and want to be welcome around.

The Red Sox aren't going to go to war with Manny mid-season. No value in that. He does deserve to be fined, but what amount, I don't know. No matter what they say, or don't say, I don't think the pick up the option unless Epstein has absolutely no other alternative. They won't dump him just for the sake of dumping him. Epstein is too smart for that. I know Ken has written that he predicts the option is picked up, but that was before some of these events took place.

Bob T. isn;t it a fact that George S. is no longer a convicted felon? As a result of Reagan's pardon, it's as if the money was never passed to Maurice Stans. I don't think that will keep him out of the HOF. He held high US Olympic Committee office after that and has performed some generous communty service in the last 35 years. The Winfield-Howie Spria thing is another story. Ken, is that enough on its own to keep George out of the HOF?

Jim:

Yes, Reagan pardoned Steinbrenner just before he left office.
But it's kind of like unringing a bell.

I woulndn't cite membership on an Olympic committee as being something that makes one more honorable - everyy 2 or 4 years there are corruption scandals. Nor would I want to mention his shipbuilding business, which supposedly had some problems producing boats for the US military after being paid in full.

Community service! What the hell about the rest of us who do community service not to beat the rap, but because it's the right thing to do! I'd cite this only if they made him wear orange jumsuits and pick up garbage in the South Bronx as punishment for his crime(s).

He destroyed the Yankees after the '80 team - it recovered when he stepped back and let others do his job.

JE: yes the link worked. It was very interesting to read how PECOTA called it, since so far it has been on target. Also think about this: why would the Red Sox say they were unhappy with Manny? Manny is the supreme prima-donna and would certainly quit on them if he realized they were. He has quit on them before. Therefore, it is to their advantage not to say squat about Manny, meanwhile Manny has to play for the extended contract at the very least.
There is absolutely no way the Yankees would want Manny. I wouldn't count him out for the Mets if the option isn't done, but no way for the Yankees.
I hope to God Steinbrenner is never elected to the HOF!

Bob, you been the leader for wanting Marvin Miller to be in the HOF. He definitely deserve to be in the HOF for helping led the players union to what it is today. How would you describe Donald Fehr's performance as the guy in charge of the union? Do you think Fehr should be consider for the HOF?

Someone asked about Steinbrenner making the Hall of Fame on yesterday's live chat. It's a tough call - and not the BBWAA's call, at all. If I were to guess, I'd say that he gets in. Does he deserve it? He's got the two suspensions and the history of treating people horribly up against his innovations and success.

These are the people that dissed Miller and voted for Kuhn...

The 12-member electorate that reviewed the Executives/Pioneers ballot featured Hall of Famers Monte Irvin and Harmon Killebrew; former executives Bobby Brown (American League) and John Harrington (Red Sox); current executives Jerry Bell (Twins), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals) and Andy MacPhail (Orioles); and veteran media members Paul Hagen (Philadelphia Daily News), Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) and Hal McCoy (Dayton Daily News).

--

Dennis - I don't know if I would advocate a vote for Fehr. Yes, he was involved in everything from Messersmith to the mess of steroids, but not in a role that dramatically changed the business like Marbvin did

As a told a friend yesterday, in letting in Kuhn before Miller, they inducted the coyote before the road runner, Elmer Fudd before Bugs Bunny.

Good to know that the link worked, Sandy. What I find fascinating -- no, make that mortifying -- is that Steve Phillips picked 14 (14!!!) teams to finish with at least 88 wins. (This info came from another site.) Think about it: that's one less than half of the teams! Ugh! I can't believe this guy was deemed qualified to be my team's general manager!

Regarding Manny, yes, I basically agree with your points. On the other hand, putting him on waivers couldn't have been a way to make the guy feel good either!

As for whether he would sign with the Amazins, well, would such a deal be contingent on having Pedro remain in Flushing? I don't know.

All this talk about King George and the Hall of Fame voters makes me wonder why I even care about who's in Cooperstown and has no business belonging and who's being stiffed by being left out.

Jim, while you're chilling out during the two-month-long holiday, I had to walk in a suit and dress shirt to meetings in and around Midtown earlier this morning and twice in the afternoon -- carrying a MacBook under one arm and a briefcase under the other. By the time I sat down to dinner, I had melted!

Dude, I hate you! ;-)

JE, as I mowed my lawn this afternoon in 90+ degree heat, I was looking for those kids from last week with the Mets and Cubs hats. I was also trying to prevent having a “Bobby Ojeda moment” with my hedge trimmer.

Bob T: The community service of George Steinbrenner that I was mainly referring to was his paying the tuition for a couple of hundred college students who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend school. I don’t necessarily want Steinbrenner in the HOF, but I really don’t care since we have Barney Dryfuss, Bowie Kuhn, Tommy Lasorda and Charles Comiskey, who helped give us the Black Sox scandal with his outrageous conduct toward his own players. Truth be told, Kuhn is the one that really put me over the top. The guy just doesn’t belong at all. He did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to merit membership.

Bob, I think the outrage with Miller clearly wasn’t with this most recent round of balloting but with the one a year earlier when the members of the Veteran’s Committee (before it was emasculated) who benefited so handsomely from Miller’s genius, didn’t overwhelmingly elect the guy. He belongs. Kuhn doesn’t.

One interesting note on Howie Spira: He served 26 months in a federal prison as a result of trying to extort more money from Steinbrenner during the Winfield mess. Many people have either forgotten that or never knew it to begin with. For the record, I don’t think any owner should be in. Walter O’Malley? Absolutely not.

Groucho Marx was right about clubs.

Oh, yeh. Groucho was on the mark. Funny how something said in jest is so true in real life.

Groucho was right about LOTS of things. My fave? "A man is only as old as (the woman) he feels."

Jim, Charles Bidwill, Paul Brown, Al Davis, George Halas, Lmar Hunt, Earl "Curly" Lambeau, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney, Dan Rooney, Tim Mara and Wellington Mara. What do all these owners have in common? They are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You said that baseball owners should not be in the HOF. Well then is the Pro Football HOF wrong for putting owners in? Or is the cirteira for the HOF in football different compare to baseball's HOF?

Dennis, never compare the NFL to MLB. Never. The owners you mentioned all became fabulously wealthy as a result of their ownership. They milked ticket holders for every cent they could. I don't want to go on and on, suffice it to say in answer to your question: Yes, the NFL HOF is wrong. People don't go to the HOF to see a George Steinbrenner display. He said in an air conditioned enclosure and dined on fine food while the rest of us paid top dollar and ate overpriced hot dogs. Walter O'Malley was one of the first owners to become rich off taxpayer dollars when LA gave him hundreds of acres of land, including extensive tracts in downtown LA that he then developed at a huge profit.

Bert Blylevan won 287 games with some bad teams, completed 242 of 685 starts with 60 shutouts. He completed 8 games with 5 shutouts in 1989 when he was 38 years old. He has 3,701 strikeouts. His lifetime WHIP is 1.198. How can Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn and Walter O'Malley be getting in to the HOF and not Bert Blylevan? This cannot be defended.

Jim, it is "Blyleven", not "Blylevan". Surely, you wouldn't want the HOF to misspell his name when he is finally inducted? ;-)

Regarding Blyleven, many of his detractors inform us that he lacked "intangible" qualities. Those might include: "big-game" performances (presumably World Series), even if that mention is of only one game (e.g., Jack Morris); character; fearsomeness (e.g., Jim Rice); and, naturally, playing for winning teams (the principal reason why Blyleven gets shafted).

And, yet, these same critics -- yes, the ones who despise OBP+ and VORP (i.e., statistics) -- then have the balls to tell me that Blyleven ALSO does not deserve HOF entry in light of his not accumulating enough WINS or not having a high-enough WINNING PERCENTAGE (i.e., statistics).

Ponderous, man. Ponderous.

Jim, you metion Dreyfuss, Kuhn and O'Malley shoudn't be in the HOF. Well them how about guys like Branch Rickey, Lee MacPhail etc, that are excutives in the HOF. We should get them out too. And also 8 umpires are also in the HOF. Umipires and referees should not be in the HOF in any sport. Baseball should have that a rule that states that only players and managers should be inducted to the HOF if that were the case.
If Bert Blyleven had 300 wins, he would be in the HOF already. Its his own fault that he couldn't get 300 wins. Guys like Don Sutton and Phil Niekro got in because they won 300 games. Neither Sutton or Niekro should be in the HOF in my opinion.

Dennis, I agree that if Blyleven had won 300, then he would be in Cooperstown -- but why is that "his own fault?"

Jim, have you ever thought of asking the kids in the Mets and Cubs caps if they would like to do a little slave labor, er, healthy exercise, and mow the lawn for you?

When I get to that point, I am moving into a condo.

The again, my friend's son is just turning 6, when he's a little older, I'll give him his first job.

JE - Thanks for the name correction on BLYLEVEN, I seem to have a mental block on that name. I noticed I spelled it a third way earlier.

Dennis, I don't want to start debating people like Rickey and McPhail, who both worked in day-to-day full-time jobs, unlike owners that had other business interests. Whether an umpire should be in is debatable, too. I can think of two that probably should be in, but the rest, I doubt it.

I disagreed with Ken when he wrote months ago that BLYLEVEN deserved membership. I am coming around to his way of thinking after looking closely at the teams he played on, his strikeouts, complete games, shutouts, WHIP, etc.

There are many pitchers in the HOF who did not win 300 games. The Chairman of the Board didn't and he played on great teams.

Sutton has good overall numbers. He only won 20 once, for some reason. Niekro is borderline, although I would have probably voted No on him, but then again I am a hardliner.

Dennis, can we both agree on one thing: Bowie Kuhn doesn't deserve to be in the HOF?

Jim, I agree with you on Kuhn. He and Selig are probably the worse commissioners in baseball history. Blyleven ran into some bad luck with the teams he pitch with. If he had pitch on teams that contend for the World Series every year, he would had gotten in even if he didn't get 300 wins.

Hooray! We agree. I still can't believe Bob Tufts will be in and around Cooperstown when Bowie is honored.

Bob, I have a question for you. I hope you know the enormous respect I have for you.

My friend's son will turn six in about a week. He hasn't played organized ball yet. He won't hit off a batting tee, claiming it's for babies and prefers to be pitched to. He is very good at making contact. Granted these are very soft tosses, but he can go 10-for-10.

My question: At what age is a good time to start organized ball? How should his dad proceed? Playing catch in the yard or on a ballfield, throwing, catching, fielding, running batting practices outside of organized ball? Putting him in a tee ball league? How is a "love for the game" developed? Please provide a quick overview of how he should be handled "baseball wise" from ages 6-10.

Thanks so much, Bob.

Some people would say Gen. Eckert was the worst baseball commissioner in history. I was too young to really remember but people tell me Ford Frick sucked as well. So, if you don't count Kennesaw Mountain Landis and Happy Chandler the rest of the list is far from stellar. With the possible exceptions of Giamatti and Vincent.

I would add Peter Ueberroth's name to the list of above-average commissioners, Sandy. Aside from ownership collusion taking place on his watch, his tenure was all positive for the game. Remember too: he brought back Mantle and Mays, who Kuhn had barred for the game for having associations with gambling.

As for Happy Chandler, I never understood the arbitrariness of his decision to ban Durocher from the game for one year.

All I know about that Durocher business is he allegedly had a lot of friends who were gamblers and gangsters. He was good friends with Frank Sinatra if that means anything. I don't know if that meant he was suspected of gambling or not, but Durocher wasn't well-liked around baseball at that time. I was thinking about Ueberroth but I decided he was in it for himself (future politician).

Ueberroth's accomplishments were genuine, Sandy, but his legacy might be minimized somewhat because of the greatness of the two men who succeeded him.

Jim - back from the tasks of the day.

There is no right answer. Whatever you do, make sure he learns to play the game the correct way. Make skills (relay throws, base running, bunting) fun and instructional.

At that age, you have no idea how they will develop. I would put him in the T-ball league even if he doesn't like it for socialization (are his freinds playing?). Frankly, I think T-ball is a waste of time other than learning the rudiments of the game and being with other kids. But if he wants more baseball, the dad can get him out on the field or backyard.

Let him develop at his own pace away from "organized" play...if he wants to play catch, set up time to do so. if he wants to hit, find a way to schedule it - but let it be his choice to inititate and yours to schedule.

You can make T-ball style play interesting by getting him a T and net and teaching him to make contact out in front of the plate - tell him that this is what major leaguers do to learn timing.

Also, practice flipping the ball in front of him from the side and hits it into a net (it can be done with tennis balls or whiffle balls too). Same philospohy.

But at the end of the day, be sure that he gets plenty of exercise. Offer him other sports in the fall and winter.

We can continue this as we go along. Kids may change their desires at a moments notice.

Bob - I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. I have sent it along to his dad, who I coached in high school wrestling 20 years ago. Unfortunately, he's a Mets fan and we have many arguments. He is bringing his son up in the faith, too. The little kid has a David Wright jersey and says that he is his favorite player.

On playing T-ball: I am so hesitant because I have seen first hand how a bad coach/experience can sour someone on a sport from the get-go. Baseball can be very boring for a kid. Hence, the value in 1-on-1 batting, fielding, throwing, etc. Yes, socialization is important. Figuring out the balance is the challenge.