The word "baseball" must leave a sour taste in the mouths of most Atlantans this off-season. After all, the Braves had an insurmountable lead in the wild card last September, only to be... well, surmounted on the last day of the season by those rotten Cardinals. (They ruin everyone's lives!!!)

However, hope springs eternal at this time of year, and the Braves look for different results despite really not changing a lot (or, any) of their roster. Let's see what the Braves have to work with this year.

via blogs.ajc.com

(Photo credits: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, www.ajc.com)

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So, apparently, there's some basketball game tonight involving dogs.  And, no, we're not talking about Air Bud.  The Butler Bulldogs and the University of Connecticut Huskies are playing tonight.  If UConn wins, it'll most likely be vacated in a couple of years, so no biggie.  If Butler wins, all Wright State fans will be able to say they play in the same conference as the National Champions.  

Leann Rimes is looking a little older these days. Not unattractive, but she ain't as young as she used to be. 

What do you all think?

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

In 2008, America had decided it had seen enough of "politics as normal" in the White House, and elected a new President to lead our nation.  A mere two years later, America had decided it had again had enough, and changed the balance of power in the House of Representatives, and made it a lot closer in the Senate as well.  Apparently, America can not decide what it wants to be.

I say all of that not because I want to start a political debate, or because I have some hidden agenda: I say it to point out the ridiculous comparison to the the town business that the Nationals bear.  The Nationals have changed the make-up of their team in a ridiculous fashion several times over the past couple of years.  The question is, have they gotten better, worse, or mostly just changed the faces of futility?  Last year they finished dead last in the division with a 69-93 record.  Will the changes be mostly cosmetic, or is there some real substance hidden at the Navy Yard? Let’s take a look, shall we?

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Hey, I wrote this poem as I was processing the unbelievable fact that these Cincinnati Reds are going to be playing postseason baseball for the first time since 1995. All the pain of being a Reds fan is lessened tonight, and this is a poem of celebration.  Enjoy.

Twas the night that we clinched, and all through the house
not a creature was stirring (’cept Hunter Pence, that louse)
All the kids and the grownups at GABP
were waiting to see what the inning would be.

When up to the plate strode the mighty Jay Bruce.
And right in that moment, my mind saw the news.
The ’Stros brought a lefty, but Jay Bruce just smirked,
Stepped in to the box, and he went straight to work.

He swung the bat hard, so fast and so quick
That I knew in a moment in the stands it would stick.
He raised both his arms and he ran with a smile
And Joy rose in Cincy that had been gone for a while.

Marty was happy, and so was son Thom.
Even Jim Day and Pic were enjoying that bomb!
The Fireworks, how bright! The crowd, O how Merry!
For such a great season, an appropriate cherry.

So thanks Aaron and Bronson, Brandon and Scott.
Thanks Orlando and Joey, the whole stinking lot!
And I heard them exclaim as they rode out of sight
“Merry Clinchmas to all, and to all a Reds' night!

It's the first night of college football!  Those of you who are Buckeye fans, you are especially in luck as the Buckeyes are playing their opener against the Marshall Thundering Turtles Herd.  Having lived in basically the corner of Marshall and Buckeye country in my past, I know there are many in SE Ohio who are conflicted.  As for me, however, I am a Buckeye fan through and through.  

Feel free to comment here if you have any insights on Ohio State, Marshall, the Reds, Bengals vs. Colts (yawn) or life in general.

Every team in America, every club has an iconic figure; someone who stands out as a true face of the club.  So often in baseball, it's the voice of the team.  Players come and players go, coaches may be around for a few years, but often, the man on the radio was the one who we grew familiar with.  Though he may have not been on the field in ages (or in some cases, ever),  you felt like the man on the radio was the link to the team.  For many of us, Joe Nuxhall was that man.  I grew up listening to Joe broadcast the events of every summer game, wishing I could stay in those moments forever.  I'll never forget the sadness in my heart when Joe passed away, because to me in my childhood, Joe WAS Reds baseball.  There are not many men about whom you can say that who remain.

Baseball lost another such man last night.  Ernie Harwell, the voice of the Tigers for over 40 years, passed away after a battle with inoperable cancer.  I could often get Tigers broadcasts on my radio as well as Reds games, so if the Reds were off, I was listening to Ernie Harwell describe, in his own poetic form, the Tigers games.  I for so long wondered how he knew where every fan was from!  

Men like Ernie, Joe, Harry Kalas, Bob Uecker, and Vin Scully are special men, and it didn't feel right to let this moment pass without honoring a great man, both in baseball and outside.

    Baseball is a highly paid Brooklyn catcher telling the nation's business leaders: "You have to be a man to be a big leaguer, but you have to have a lot of little boy in you too."

   This is a game for America, this baseball!

   A game for boys and men. - Ernie Harwell, "A Game for All America"

Happy Sweet Sixteen, everybody!!! There's some basketball going on today.  The early games are Syracuse vs. Butler and West Virginia vs. Washington.  Later tonight, the Muskies will lose to... er... play Kansas State, and the Kentucky Wildcats will face off against the Big Red of Cornell.  (They're playing like a machine!!!)  If your bracket is still intact, or whether you've thrown it away long, long ago; come discuss the action tonight.  Especially if you hate Xavier.

75 words is more difficult than I thought.

The Washington Nationals are a franchise steeped in tradition and history – if you’re six years old or under.  The old Expos relocated to Washington in 2005 after years of playing baseball anonymously with no fans in Montreal.  They moved to Washington and promptly continued the losing ways.  Let’s see what will happen in 2010…

Key additions/subtractions:

The Nats had one "Marquis" signing this year:  Jason Marquis, who was 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA last year in Colorado.  Also, they picked up Pudge Rodriguez and gave a minor league contract to Livan Hernandez.  Rumor has it former Red Willy Taveras is in camp too.  He must be the one running around with a bag on his head.

The Nationals didn’t lose anyone of note over the offseason, but recently gave Elijah Dukes the ol’ heave-ho.  Former Reds Austin Kearns and Dmitri Young also moved on in the offseason.  Austin went to the Indians, and Dmitri retired.  Mike MacDougal wasn’t good enough to keep his closer role, so he took his ball and went to Florida.

Lineup:

C  Iván Rodríguez

Yep, that Iván Rodríguez.  Pudge is back, playing for his 5th team in 6 years.  What Pudge has gained in experience and knowledge, he’s lost in age; at 38, he’s at the end of his career as a "seasoned veteran" and getting dangerously close to being downright "old for a baseball player."  He’s got tons of experience though, and with a slash line last year of .249/.280/.324, he may still have enough in the tank to provide some pop.

1B  Adam Dunn

It’s still strange to see Adam Dunn wearing red and blue instead of, well, just red, but the Big Donkey is kicking it at a new position.  After spending his career in Cincinnati in LF, the Nats have been working on converting Adam to 1B, where his lack of defensive prowess can be minimized.  Other than that, he still strikes out a lot (177 last year), walks a lot (116), and hits HRs (38.)  He will be a key to the offense for the Nationals.

2B  Adam Kennedy

Adam comes over this year from Oakland, where he spent a year holding down the middle infield for Adam Rosales.  Kennedy is a solid player, but nothing special.  He carried an OPS+ of 101 last year, with an OBP of .348, so he could be a table setter for the big boppers.

SS  Cristian Guzmán

Cristian has been a respectable shortstop for the Nationals for the past few years, and was an all-star as recently as 2008 (although, being a Nationals all-star is similar to being the best looking guy at an all-girls school).  He’s been decent for the Nationals, slashing .282/.315/.394 for Washington in his 4 years there.  He has company at SS though, as he has young phenom Ian Desmond breathing down his back (more on him later.

3B  Ryan Zimmerman

Ryan Zimmerman is the cog at the center of this Nationals lineup.  He is the bright young star that the Nationals hope will lead their team into the future.  Last year, the 24 year old phenom OPS+’d an impressive 133, with 33 HR and 106 RBI.  His future development is the key to the Nats’ future, and indeed, even the key to this season.

LF  Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham is another young player, cast off by the Marlins, who has developed into a fine young ballplayer over the past few seasons.  In the past, he’s been stuck in a platoon/rotation with other young players in the Nationals organization.  He had a very respectable OBP of .367 last year, and looks to continue to stay on track.

CF  Nyjer Morgan

Besides having the oddest name on the team, Nyjer Morgan is one of the brightest stars on this team, with a lot of potential.  After being traded from the Pirates for Lastings Milledge, Morgan went on to have one heck of a season with the Nats, OPSing .888 in just 49 games in Washington.  If Morgan can continue to perform at this level, the Nats will be set at the top of the order.

RF  Willie Harris

Elijah Dukes is a troubled young man who has a world of baseball potential.  He has some rough edges, but can develop into a fine young ballplayer with some time and supervision. 

What’s that? The Nationals cut Dukes?  Who’s going to start?! Willie Harris?!?!   What the heck?!   Well, Willie is a 9 year player with a career OPS+ of 80.  Don’t look for much from Willie, other than to be riding the pine after a while.

Rotation

John Lannan
Jason Marquis
Scott Olsen
????
????

After the first 3 spots, there are a lot of names up for the final two spots.  The favorites are probably Livan Hernandez, who has pitched for the Nationals before, and Garrett Mock, a young kid.  Craig Stemmen and J.D Martin, with Collin Balester working to prove himself in the minors.  There’s also some kid named Strasburg, but we’ll talk about him later.  Chien-Ming Wang is recovering from his latest injury, so he could get a shot once healthy.  An August rotation of Lannan, Marquis, Olsen, Strasburg, and Wang?  That could be dangerous.

Bullpen:

Matt Capps
Brian Bruney
Tyler Walker
Tyler Clippard
Jason Bergmann
Sean Burnett
Doug Slaten

There really is no one else of note here in this bullpen.  Bruney came over from the Yankees and will set up for Capps, signed from the Pirates. Burnett and Slaten are the primary LHP options. Villone is also in camp, and could sneak in ahead of Slaten.

Bench:

Wil Nieves - C
Justin Maxwell – OF
Eric Bruntlett – INF
Mike Morse – UTL
Alberto Gonzalez – INF

Not much of note here.  Wil Nieves is a place-holder until Jesus Flores’ s shoulder has recovered. Willy Taveras could be here instead of Morse, but either way, the Nationals hope that they don’t have to rely on these guys too much.

This team used to be almost entirely populated by former Reds, but now just fringe guys Ron Villone, Willy Taveras, and first baseman Adam Dunn spent any real time with the Reds.

Any discussion about Nationals prospects is centered around Ian Desmond, a young middle infield prospect, and some kid named Stephen Strasburg.  Strasburg is their Aroldis Chapman, (except he’s shorter, doesn’t throw as hard, and has less control.  Suck it, Nationals!)  He’s currently in AA, but look for him to get called up mid-season.  Desmond is getting close to being ready to play full-time, and may get a chance if Guzman’s shoulder isn’t completely healthy.  Both of these guys should be staples by year’s end.

I don’t see great things ahead for the Natty boys this year.  Their young players are a year older, the older players are a year older. There are still a lot of question marks, but this team could be just a year away from being contenders, if they get the right pieces.  Look for the Nationals to go somewhere in the neighborhood of 68-94.  Hey, it could be worse.  Leatherpants could still be running the show.