2008 Woodie Awards
PCI
Erin Redihan '08 & Kevin O'Brien '07
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Sports
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What do you think are the most interesting storylines heading into this baseball season? -Vicky Fagan '08
Even though spring training is just getting started, there are already a number of budding storylines off and on the field.
First and most important for me is the Red Sox closer issue. After watching the 2005 closer-by-committee disaster followed by Jonathan Papelbon's great success last year, I hate to say that the former is looking more likely each day. Manager Terry Francona and the Sox have already said that Papelbon will only close in the worst case scenario. The owners seemed to have ample opportunities to trade for someone to fill his shoes but could not get it done. Now they are left with a trio of Mike Timlin, Joel Pineiro, and Julian Tavarez as the most likely candidates. In any case, not one of the above looks as though he can even come close to last year's surprising success. And without a formidable closer, important late season wins are tough to come by.
Another interesting story is whether Ichiro Suzuki will file for free agency after the season. Specualtors say he may be unhappy with the team's plans to move him to center field because of the signing of Jose Guillen, or that Seattle has finished dead last in the AL West for three straight years. In any case, this is a key issue that the Mariners will have to face this season. Along with being a perfect fit for Seattle's leadoff spot and the Safeco outfield, Ichiro has become a cultural icon for the city and its sizable Japanese population. His departure would be devastating for both dedicated Seattle baseball fans and the cult that has developed around him over the last six seasons.
-Erin Redihan '08
Wow, I can't believe it's that time of year already. It may seem a little early to kick into baseball gear, but springtime is almost upon us, so prepare yourselves for another year of America's favorite pastime.
The first storyline worth keeping an eye on: Can the St. Louis Cardinals repeat as World Series Champions? I guess anything is possible-as evidenced by the very fact that the Cardinals were champs in the first place-but I am hard-pressed to see them successfully defending their title. They do still have the best hitter in baseball with Albert Pujols, but losing playoff heroes Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan from a rotation that contains only Chris Carpenter and his band of misfits is a recipe for disaster.
Even though spring training is just getting started, there are already a number of budding storylines off and on the field.
First and most important for me is the Red Sox closer issue. After watching the 2005 closer-by-committee disaster followed by Jonathan Papelbon's great success last year, I hate to say that the former is looking more likely each day. Manager Terry Francona and the Sox have already said that Papelbon will only close in the worst case scenario. The owners seemed to have ample opportunities to trade for someone to fill his shoes but could not get it done. Now they are left with a trio of Mike Timlin, Joel Pineiro, and Julian Tavarez as the most likely candidates. In any case, not one of the above looks as though he can even come close to last year's surprising success. And without a formidable closer, important late season wins are tough to come by.
Another interesting story is whether Ichiro Suzuki will file for free agency after the season. Specualtors say he may be unhappy with the team's plans to move him to center field because of the signing of Jose Guillen, or that Seattle has finished dead last in the AL West for three straight years. In any case, this is a key issue that the Mariners will have to face this season. Along with being a perfect fit for Seattle's leadoff spot and the Safeco outfield, Ichiro has become a cultural icon for the city and its sizable Japanese population. His departure would be devastating for both dedicated Seattle baseball fans and the cult that has developed around him over the last six seasons.
-Erin Redihan '08
Wow, I can't believe it's that time of year already. It may seem a little early to kick into baseball gear, but springtime is almost upon us, so prepare yourselves for another year of America's favorite pastime.
The first storyline worth keeping an eye on: Can the St. Louis Cardinals repeat as World Series Champions? I guess anything is possible-as evidenced by the very fact that the Cardinals were champs in the first place-but I am hard-pressed to see them successfully defending their title. They do still have the best hitter in baseball with Albert Pujols, but losing playoff heroes Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan from a rotation that contains only Chris Carpenter and his band of misfits is a recipe for disaster.