The Final Score

OK, baseball picks. First, Jim’s repeated from last Friday, then Anthony’s.

AL EAST
Jim: Yankees
This is more a vote against the Red Sox as it is for the Yankees. I think the Red Sox pitching staff will suffer a letdown from last year and I also think it will take them time to recover from the Japan trip. Meanwhile, I'll say the Yankees win 94 and the Red Sox win 91.
Anthony: Red Sox
I agree, Jim, that the Red Sox’s staff will suffer a letdown, but the Yankees staff is more likely to suffer a meltdown. It’s hard to win with young pitchers, even young pitchers who all seem like they have a chance to be very good. It just doesn’t happen overnight. The Yankees will be better in ’09, but the best they’ll do this season is a wild card.

AL Central
Jim: Tigers
Yes, their pitching has problems, but how about that lineup! Their offense will win them 96 games.
Anthony: Yup.
I agree. I also agree with Jim that the Tigers’ pitching problems, especially in the bullpen, will stop them from making the World Series (he picks the Yankees to win the AL below. They won’t).

AL West
Jim: Mariners
I like the Angels on paper better, but the injuries to Escobar and Lackey scare me.
Anthony: Ditto.
This is how you know we’re not just planning to disagree all the time like some idiot radio talk show hosts who make a lot more money than we do. Of all my AL picks, this is the one I’m least sure of, though, just because Mike Scioscia is such a good and underrated manager and Seattle’s John McLaren is an unknown. But pitching rules the day and the Mariners have more of it.

AL Wild Card
Jim: Red Sox
Anthony: Yankees
Well, I didn’t say the Yankees were going to be gosh-awful. They still have a terrific lineup and Mariano Rivera and one of the kid pitchers will probably break out this season. That’s enough for the wild card. But not enough to make it out of the first round. Again.

AL pennant
Jim: Yankees
Let's say they beat the Red Sox in the ALCS in another classic.
Anthony: Let’s not
Sorry, Jim, you’re going to have to live with Red Sox-Tigers in an exhausting ALCS. And the Boston mojo will work in seven games and The Nation will brace for back-to-back crowns. But Red Sox fans will be disappointed by an old nemesis who now toils in the NL.

NL East
Jim: Mets
Santana is the best pitcher in the league, and will dominate. He'll win 22. I also believe the 2-3-4 of Pedro, Maine and Perez is better than anyone else's 2-3-4. Good enough for 42 more wins right there. Injuries are a concern, offensively, but I like their pitching a lot.
Anthony: Mets
Interesting. All six of Newsday’s baseball experts picked the Mets to win the East. Ken Davidoff and David Lennon picked them to win the World Series. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but the Mets will get to the NLCS – one round better than the Yankees.

NL Central
Jim: Cubs
I wanted to go with the Brewers, but at the last second decided to go with the Cubs. I'm already regretting it. This race goes down to the last few days, for sure.
Anthony: Cubs
All six of Newsday’s baseball experts picked the Cubs, too. I picked them to win the World Series last season. I won’t get fooled again! But they win the division. The Brewers don’t have enough arms.

NL West
Jim: Diamondbacks
How can you argue with Webb and Haren at the top of their rotation. They could both win 20, without question.
Anthony: Snakes it is
Wouldn’t shock me if the D-Backs had the NL’s best record, setting up Snakes-Mets in the first round because the NL wild card is also going to come from the West. Mets win in four to make the NLCS.

NL Wild Card
Jim: Padres
What fun is making predictions if you don't go out on a limb? I know this isn't too crazy a pick, but it means the Phillies, Braves and Brewers don't make the playoffs. Whatever. I like the Padres, and maybe the midseason acquisition of Bonds puts them over the top. :)
Anthony: Dodgers
No smiley faces, please, Jim. Not on my watch.
Joe Torre has been in the playoffs 12 straight seasons! You think he can’t get this underachieving but talented bunch a berth in the ridiculously weak NL? Yes he can! And more! And exclamation points trump smiley faces!

NL pennant
Jim: Diamondbacks
They beat the Mets in the NLCS. Haren and Webb combine for the four Arizona wins.
Anthony: Dodgers
Torre returns to New York to beat the Mets in six while the Yankees are sitting at home and Hank Steinbrenner fumes. But that’s not Joe’s last laugh . . .

World Series
Jim: Diamondbacks
In a repeat of the '01 World Series, the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees. And Randy Johnson refuses to make the trip to New York for Games 3, 4 and 5 to avoid the NY media.
Anthony: Dodgers
The Red Sox are the heavy favorite, but the Dodgers ride that Torre magic to a surprisingly easy World Series win in five games. Hank Steinbrenner begs Torre to come back. Torre says he is insulted by the offer until Hank doubles his Dodgers salary. Torre accepts because he loves green even more than Dodger blue.

Feel free to add your two cents below. Next week we'll debate something else. Thanks to this site for the photo.

…Have nothing to do with this blog.
Happy April Fool’s Day.

If you’ve found us for the first time, and you’re a sports fan, then stay a while. If you’re a Jim Baumbach fan from way back (like, months ago, when he started this blog), then welcome to the new Final Score.
Baumbach built this blog (and Newsday’s Yankees blog before it) from the sweat of his sports writer brow, and he’s been kind enough to let me, Anthony Rieber, join in. The idea, as Jim explained in a post last week, is to keep the conversation going since no one can blog 24 hours a day. Jim and I actually spend a lot of time doing other things for Newsday, like writing articles for the web site and newspaper, and we don’t want you to miss even one day of our take. And we don’t want to miss one day of hearing what you think about what we think or what you think about something we didn’t even think about (got all that?).
We’re going to debate stuff, like our predictions for the baseball season (see above, or below, depending on which side of the equator you’re on), and Jim is going to continue to do stuff like flying in blimps and working out with disgraced trainers and carrying a chain at a Dragons game and just being his usual irrepressible self.
One new feature on the Final Score: I’m going to answer baseball questions that have been stacking up in my “Ask Anthony” mailbag. “Ask Anthony” has gone all-video this season, but it’s hard to do too many of those for logistical reasons you need not concern yourself with, so I’m going to answer some questions here in a timely fashion to complement the videos. Look for that later this week.
(If you saw the first video “Ask Anthony” that Jim and I did, all I can say is I’m sorry. I’ll get better. I’m a writer, not a talker. We’ve got a really cool idea for the location of the next one, and if all goes well it’ll be on Newsday.com within a week. My promise: It can’t be any worse!)
So we hope you check us out a few times a day since we plan on doing a lot of updating of this thing. Comment, ask questions, chew us out, suggest topics you want us to tackle, make fun of Jim’s smile or my scowl in our blog photos.
We can take it.
Thanks to this site for the poster.

Taking my cue from Ken Davidoff, here are the Opening Days that I have attended.

April 9, 1985: Mets 6, Cardinals 5, at Shea Stadium.
I was 6, so I don't remember much. I believe it was cold and rainy, and I recall going to the bathrooms because there was heat there. We left early, but the weather cleared up and we returned to the stadium and they let us back in. Different world then.

April 5, 1993: Mets 3, Rockies 0, at Shea Stadium
The Rockies' first game ever. My parents took us out of school to witness history. I remember sitting in the leftfield upper deck watching David Nied face Dwight Gooden. Retrosheet tells me Yankee manager Joe Girardi played for the Rockies that day.

April 3, 2005: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2, at Yankee Stadium.
What I remember from this game is that Randy Johnson pitched well, and we all thought that was the start of what would be three dominating years from Johnson. Whoops.

April 3, 2006: Yankees 15, Athletics 2, at McAfee Stadium
What an outburst of scoring - I believe there was even a grand slam by Alex Rodriguez. Then the Yankees went kaput for the rest of the cruel season-opening West Coast trip.

April 2, 2007: Yankees 9, Devil Rays 5, at Yankee Stadium
The day of A-Rod: he screwed up a pop in the first, left runners on base, was booed. Then he hit a big home run late, setting the stage for his big year. But what I remember most was Steve Swindal, who was being divorced out of the family, showed up. After the game he spoke with me and three other reporters. I asked where he watched the game. "Up in the suites," he said. Doubt it was GMS's suite. We haven't heard from him since.

If Billy Crystal can get an at-bat for the Yankees in spring training, then I can carry the chains at a Dragons game! Yeah, that sounds about right... LOL.

Anyway... I asked the Dragons if I could be a part of the chain crew for a story and they obliged. But never did I imagine how much work it would be.

You can read about it here or watch this video of me trying not to trip.

I was just inside The Sports Authority and came across a rack of Roger Clemens Yankees jerseys and t-shirts.

The sign on the top of the rack said "All Roger Clemens tees, jerseys 50 percent off."

Hmmmmm.

I wonder why.

I remember reading a story about this clearance sale after the Mitchell Report was released. But it was funny to see in person. And it's even funnier that three months have passed and still no one's buying 'em.

Newsday's baseball preview section was unveiled today -- here's the link -- and on one of the last pages we were asked for predictions.

Following the lead of my colleague, Ken Davidoff, I'll post my predictions here with explanations after the jump.

Jason Fraser, formerly of Amityville now living in Brentwood, says he correctly predicted his alma mater Villanova to make the Sweet Sixteen.

But now we'll see how good Fraser is at making predictions: he says the 12th-seeded Wildcats will pull off the upset of the tournament and beat top-seeded Kansas tomorrow night.

As for Fraser's career, he still has NBA ambitions despite his ongoing knee problems.

He's one month into a three-month rehab program in the city and is still in contact with some NBA teams about his progress.

So he's still holding out hope.

Spoke to my where-are-they-now subject for 20 minutes last night. I'm going to post the story today, instead of tomorrow, just because. How's that for a reason?

Here's my hints:
** A former Long Island high school star.
** Played hoops at a school still alive in the NCAA Tournament.

This shouldn't be too hard.

In the meantime, here's our past Where Are They Now participants:
Ron Hunt ... Walt Szczerbiak ... Davey Johnson ... Brian Mahoney ... Mike Stanley ... Matt Bahr ... Jeff Hostetler ... Leonard Marshall ... Y.A. Tittle ... Ottis Anderson ... Barry Lyons ... Bruce Harper ... Mackey Sasser ... Ken Phelps ... Kenny "Sky" Walker.

Juan Gonzalez, one of several Mitchell Report players in Cardinals camp, did not make the team. The main reason was an injury.

Anyone see that coming?

Nahhhh.

This St. Louis Post-Dispatch story says Gonzalez had an abdominal strain that the team couldn't treat, limiting him to being used only as a designated hitter. Obviously, that won't work in the National League.

The story also says the Cardinals placed Gonzalez on the 'temporarily inactive list,' which means they keep his rights.

Just in case the NL goes to a DH.

You've had enough of Jose Canseco and books, and Alex Rodriguez, too. But one more question from me: Why hasn't A-Rod denied Canseco's claim that he introduced A-Rod to a "known steroids supplier?"

A-Rod has now had two opportunities with reporters to do so. The first time he said he had no reaction and then yesterday he said he would not discuss it.

If A-Rod truly did not do steroids - which he has said - but did meet with a steroids supplier, there's no harm in admitting that. If anything, it makes him look human, like the rest of us. All he has to do is say, "Listen, guys, what Jose says is true, I did ask him about the effect of steroids. Who didn't wonder about that? So many guys were doing it. I did meet with his guy, but then, before anything happened, I decided this wasn't for me. I'm glad I made that decision. And that's all there is."

Of course, that would work ... if that's what happened. Who knows? For now, because of Canseco and because of A-Rod's lack of a reaction, we can only wonder...

Also, I wonder if A-Rod is getting his advice on handling this from this guy.

My only regret from my four-day stay with the Mets is that I didn't get to see Pedro pitch.

But the time will come soon enough.

But it was neat to watch him watch the Red Sox-A's game today, especially his reaction to Manny Ramirez's two-run double in the tenth.

Manny thought it was gone, so he took a few seconds to leave the box.

Pedro laughed rather loudly.

Earlier, in the ninth, when Emil Brown stupidly tried for third and was caught, Pedro watched the replay and announced, "Where you going!"

It was funnier in person than on paper. You'll just have to take my word.

I haven't discussed this with Anthony yet.

But whatever.

This started as my blog, so I get to still make some decisions around here.

Yeah, that's right.

I enjoy searching the Internet for old baseball cards, so from now on most of my posts will be accompanied by a baseball card image.

Just saying, for the record.

That's all.

Samuel Samuel.

That's the kid's name.

Yes, the two names are pronounced differently, but I don't care. I still love this fact.

Anyway, I forgot to mention this yesterday.

While waiting for the Mets outside the visitors clubhouse at Fort Lauderdale, I saw Juan Samuel coaching third base for the Orioles.

I didn't have time yesterday, but I promise that this year I'm going to ask him about the story behind his son's name. There's got to be a story.

Maybe he should have named him Seven instead.

I'm on vacation. I'm no Neil Best. No blog posts this week.
We'll roll out the new "Final Score" next week.
One thought: It's going to be interesting being on the same blog as Jim, a guy who uses the word "neat" and doesn't mean it sarcastically at all.
Maybe we can change the name of the blog to dark side/light side. Guess which one I am.
See you Monday.
Thanks to this site for the photo.

Everyone, please say hello to Anthony Rieber.

We here at Newsday -- well, Anthony and I -- decided that The Final Score was such a great, great blog, but I was kinda doing a disservice to you guys. Some days I'd post several times; other days I wouldn't post at all because of assignments. So we decided to team up so we can bring you sports observations more often.

We also have some other neat ideas for the blog. We're going to do a weekly debate, and I'm going to start to post a daily morning wakeup call -- a roundup of stuff the sports fan needs to know in the morning. Stuff like that.

So keep coming back. Please.

As you may or may not know, I'm in Port St. Lucie with the Mets.

Random hotel scene No. 1
At 7: 45 this morning, as I am eating a warm cinnamon roll in the hotel breakfast room, a girl who couldn't be more than 21 years old asked me if I had a bottle opener. She had a bottle of Budweiser in her hand. I told her I did not.

Random hotel scene No. 2
About 10 minutes later I walk through the lobby on my way to the ballpark. I see said girl with another woman, and they're both drinking their beers. The second woman looked like it probably was her mother. Amazing.

Anyway...

Johan Santana pitches today in a minor-league game, his final tuneup prior to Opening Day. I'm looking forward to seeing the two-time Cy Young award winner in action.

So sorry I've left you guys for a few days -- I've been spending my days on the On the Mets Beat blog as I cover for Dave Lennon. Just wanted to stop by and say not to worry. My time here in Florida is almost up, and I'm leaving with a list of Web column ideas, where-are-they-nows and blog entries to tackle when I get home. You'll see.

Also, I'm here in overcast Fort Lauderdale today for the Mets game against the Orioles. Pretty cool that this is the same complex where the Yankees trained before moving to Tampa in 1996. I can just see George Steinbrenner walking around this stadium, waving his arms, calling reporters, firing managers, berating staff, etc.

The one weird thing about this stadium: there is an airport next door, and I feel the press box here on the roof shake whenever a plane comes and goes. Not a good feeling.

I'll be home Wednesday. You'll start seeing regular entries then.

UConn guard A.J. Price is out six months with a torn ACL.

(That's according to this ESPN report.)

Sorry to say, but, physically, he didn't look too good.

I was standing in the tunnel area of Legends Field, which is on the lower level underneath the seats and connects the clubhouses, lobby and player parking lot. I was on the phone with the office when the lobby door opened and George came out. He was walking with his driver while talking to team president Randy Levine.

Steinbrenner kept one hand on his driver's shoulder the whole time as he gingerly walked from the door to the golf cart. He has always had a bad knee, but never have I seen him need to hold onto someone while he walked to balance himself.

(Someone told me the reason George didn't go to the Ted Williams Museum dinner the other night was because the way the stage was set up in the outfield, it would have been too long for him to walk, which makes sense now that I've seen him.)

As for mentally, on the other hand, he definitely seemed with it. A photographer went up to him and mentioned some name, and George's eyes lit up. "Tell him I said hello!" Then, as his golf cart drove off, he waved at another reporter he recognized.

Just reporting what I witnessed...

***

I'm off to Mets camp this morning. So you'll see me on the Mets blog, as well.

Maybe change was for the best. I've only been around the Yankees for two days, so obviously take this for what it's worth. But I really like the aura in the clubhouse. There's no tension, nothing like the days when Randy Johnson and Gary Sheffield were in the clubhouse. But it's not like this is one big party. Joe Girardi is definitely respected by the players, and camp seems to have a good vibe to it. What does this all mean? Nothing, probably, come Opening Day. Just my observation.

That, and I think Joba belongs in the bullpen. But it's just me.

Just a programming note: I'm going to try to keep the blog going over the next few days, but I'm here in Florida giving our beat writers some time to work on their special section stuff (which benefits you, the reader!). So I may not continue to blog at my usual pace, I'll still be checking in with observations, and I hope you do the same...

Okay, Yankee clubhouse is about to open. Today's a day game in Dunedin. It's rainy here. But I can't complain. It was 66 degrees. Not bad, eh? BTW, I'll post something on the Yankees in a bit. But after only one day, yes only one day, I sensed a very positive vibe among the players. Joe Girardi seems to be the perfect guy to follow Joe Torre.

(Of course they haven't played a game that matters yet...)

As I walked into the Legends Field press box for the first time this spring, my reunion of sorts was overshadowed by the television, which was tuned to ESPN.

The Red Sox, as I type, are boycotting today's exhibition game in Fort Myers and their flight later today to Japan is in jeopardy because they are irate that Red Sox coaches won't be receiving $40,000 appearance fee for the trip.

Can't say I blame the players. This is not about greed. It's about principle. On the scale of salaries, the highest-paid coaches make about $500,000 - most are around $100,000. Yes, a lot of money, but it's pocket change compared to player salaries.

The Red Sox players were under the assumption that it was already agreed upon that the coaches were getting the same amount as the players; they just learned today that's not true. Good for the players for sticking up for their coaches.

** Players are now stretching on the field. So maybe it's resolved.

*** It is resolved.

Attended the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame induction ceremony tonight. It was held on the turf in right-centerfield at Tropicana Field here in St. Pete.

The big news was that George Steinbrenner received the lifetime achievement award. But he didn't show. His daughter, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, accepted on his behalf, saying, "I know that he’s just very sad that he couldn’t be here."

Other tidbits:

* The outfield turf has dirt sprinkled on it, making it look real. First time I've ever seen it.

* Andre Dawson and Roberto Alomar were inducted. Wade Boggs, who introduced Goose Gossage's award, pushed for Dawson in the HOF. So did Reggie Jackson.

* Boggs on Gossage: "He looks like the cowardly lion, but he is not cowardly." (It's funny to note the Wizard of Oz actor who played the Oz mayor was here. Seriously.)

* Jonathan Papelbon's father is the deputy director of the museum. (Papelbon and Hideki Okajima won awards, then left early to sleep before their Japan flight.)

Took a long weekend off from blogging, but it was no vacation. Had to get ready for a trip to spring training (I'm in St. Pete right now) and then work out with none other than Brian McNamee. Here's my first-person story and here are some photos from the workout.

It was definitely neat to try, but, man, was it tough. I only completed about 25 percent of the drills. And I had a bigtime brain cramp and forgot to bring water. So after sprints I thought I was going to pass out. Those power abs I described in the story - they're the real deal.

Yes, I'm very sore today.

I'll leave the PED jokes to you guys.

Ron Hunt was the first Mets player to get a hit, score a run and hit a home run at Shea Stadium.

Today in my where-are-they-now column, he says, "I would hope since I was there to open Shea, I hope I will get an invitation to put it away, too. And then an invitation to open the new one, as well."

Don't worry, Ron. The Mets say you will be invited.

Speaking of invites, if we throw a where-are-they-now one-year anniversary party next December, here is who we'll be reaching out to: Ron Hunt ... Walt Szczerbiak ... Davey Johnson ... Brian Mahoney ... Mike Stanley ... Matt Bahr ... Jeff Hostetler ... Leonard Marshall ... Y.A. Tittle ... Ottis Anderson ... Barry Lyons ... Bruce Harper ... Mackey Sasser ... Ken Phelps ... Kenny "Sky" Walker.

Okay, you won't have much time to guess. I just got off the phone with him. And I have to turn this around pretty quickly. I bet the story is online by 1ish. A little later than normal, but it's a good one. Anyway, Mets fans will enjoy it. (There's your first hint).

Here are some more hints:
* Former Met.
* There are four letters in his last name.
* His wife told me they are sad to see Shea Stadium go.

I figured Frank Viola would be a good where-are-they-now because of his ties to Johan Santana. Both were Twins lefthanders who were traded to the Mets for a ton of prospects. Plus, Frank is from East Meadow.

I found a number for Frank and called. He came to the phone. I thought I had gold. But I couldn't believe how old he sounded. Turns out it was Daddy Viola, also named Frank.

Here's how the call went:

* ME: Hello, Frank, I'm Jim Baumbach, a sportswriter from Newsday in New York.
* FV: I think you want my son.
* ME: Oh, I'm sorry about that. Do you know how I can contact him?
* FV: He's out of town, and I don't think he's going to have any comment.

No comment? But he doesn't even know what I was going to ask him about.

Oh well. I'll move down the list.

The outcry in Boston over the Red Sox releasing Doug Mirabelli is pretty funny.

He's the backup catcher!

Yes, he was on the 2004 team, so he will forever be a legend in Boston. But it's 2008. The guy can't hit, and apparently they've found someone else who can catch Tim Wakefield's knuckler. So Mirabelli is a goner.

I bet today's a good day to ask Mirabelli if he really did tell Gary Thorne that there wasn't actual blood on Curt Schilling's sock in 2004.

In other Red Sox news, Manny speaks!

***

Okay, so I have two hours and two minutes to find a where-are-they-now. My fault for procrastinating on this one, but my two days at the Big East Tournament limited my reach. Don't worry, I'll start banging the phones now.

Keep hitting refresh as I'll be posting thoughts from the Big East Tournament.

4:58 p.m.

Final score: West Virginia 78, UConn 72.

It's been fun. See ya guys later...

4:56 p.m.

There's your poster moment -- Joe Alexander throwing down a two-handed dunk over Stanley Robinson after West Virginia broke the press by finding him down court.

Get the bus started!

4:54 p.m.

UConn had a shot to get back into it. But Price's missed free throw was their last gasp; it's not his fault, it's just that UConn lost the momentum. That, and West Virginia grabbed something like 1,734 offensive rebounds in the final three minutes. So this is all but over, with a little over a minute left the West Virginia up by eight.

You probably saw that