Can the Lakers Get By Without Bynum?

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a postseason roll. They look pretty formidable right now, but the question on every Laker’s fan mind is—can this team win it all with out Andrew Bynum? The young center was supposed to be back from injury a month ago, but now it appears as though he might not be returning at all.
It hasn’t hurt them so far in the series against Denver. The Lakers have dominated every aspect of the series and shut down the Nuggets’ two big scorers—Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. But, if and when they have to play teams like Utah, San Antonio or Phoenix, they’re going to have to play a team featuring a big man in the middle, and it will be tough without a large body to put up against a true center.
For those who aren’t familiar with the situation, Bynum injured his knee on January 13th when he landed on a teammate’s foot going for a rebound. He went to a knee specialist in New York on April 17th, but still hasn’t been cleared to practice.
The Lakers won’t comment on Bynum’s status and have been mysteriously quiet about the whole thing.
At this point, it might just be a better idea to leave Bynum out for the remainder of the season. To bring him in at this late date could disturb team chemistry. The Lakers are running on all cylinders right now, and the Lakers might just be able to win the NBA title without him, so why risk injuring a player with an obviously bright future by rushing him into the playoffs?
And then, if he is ready to play, how smart would it be to bring in a young player to go up against guys like Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and/or Tyson Chandler? If he fails, it could be extremely harmful to his psyche. Bringing him back this year might not be fair to the kid.
Or maybe when Bynum’s ready, the Lakers could use him sparingly in the playoffs, for possibly 10-15 minutes per game. If he vastly improves, they could play him more in the NBA Finals. He could just be the Willis Reed of the Finals and provide the Lakers with the missing piece they require to go all the way.
This is what the rampaging Lakers did in Denver yesterday:
Bryant scored 22 points and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 3-0 lead in their first-round series, routing the flustered Nuggets 102-84 on Saturday.
Game 4 is Monday night, and the Nuggets are going to have to get more out of their All-Star duo of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson if they hope to take the series back to the Staples Center.
Anthony and Iverson were miserable from the floor, shooting a combined 10-for-38 and finishing with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Bryant was quiet, too, at least in the first half, when he scored eight points on 3-for-8 shooting.
An air ball slowed Bryant's surge just when it looked like he was going to repeat his 19-point, 4½-minute surge in Game 2, but the Nuggets trailed 69-51 after Lamar Odom's two free throws.
Anthony drew a technical foul -- Denver's seventh in the series -- after he was stripped on his way to the basket, leading to a breakaway by Bryant that stretched the Lakers' lead to 78-61 with 2:33 left in the third.
Los Angeles took an 83-64 lead into the fourth quarter and never looked back.
Luke Walton added 15 points off the bench for Los Angeles, and Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher each scored 14.
By the closing minutes, the Lakers' bench was more interested in a fight in the stands that led to some belligerent fans being taken away by police officers. Even Bryant stuck a peek while teammate Jordan Farmar was shooting free throws at the other end of the court.
On his next touch, Bryant hit a 3-pointer from the right elbow for a 100-78 lead, then took a seat and acknowledged with a thumbs-up his very own cheering section that had drowned out the boo birds during the second half and continued the "MVP!" chants that serenaded him back in California.
The Nuggets, who have lost seven straight playoff games, not only wanted to keep their composure coming back to Colorado, but they also figured they could get to the rim and the foul line more than they had in the first two games in Los Angeles.
Nothing doing.
They limped to the locker room trailing 53-46 at halftime with 'Melo and A.I. a combined 5-for-21, pretty much negating the boost they got from forward Linas Kleiza's start.
Kleiza's insertion into the starting lineup in Game 2 in place of guard Anthony Carter was key to the Nuggets keeping up with the taller Lakers -- until he hyper-extended his right elbow on a hard foul by Gasol and the Lakers pulled away for another double-digit win.
Despite missing practice Friday, Kleiza scored 15 points, but he got little help.
With Denver missing jumpers, layups, committing three-second violations and not drawing any fouls, the Lakers began pulling away after Anthony's basket with 4:29 left in the second quarter had tied it at 42.
Bryant hit a sweet six-foot jumper, Gasol sank a free throw and Vladimir Radmanovic swished a 3-pointer, forcing the Nuggets to call timeout.
It didn't help. Gasol sank two more foul shots to make it 51-42 before Iverson hit four free throws in the final minute. Before that, the Nuggets had shot just four free throws all game.
Denver defensive specialist Kenyon Martin was the only one keeping the Nuggets from getting trampled early on. He hit four of his first six shots while his teammates were a combined 1-for-13 from the floor.
In the third quarter, however, Martin was the victim more often than not as Bryant got hot and starting hitting all kinds of shots over and around him.
(Portions of this article courtesy of www. cbssportsline.com and http://www.sportsonthestreet.blogspot.com/ reporter Matt Levine, Todd Axtell’s Sports Review and the Tom Shine NBA Report)

It's a Bed In a Box!

There's a great site out there offering some of the best deals you'll find anywhere on bedding and bed accessories. It's called www.bedinabox.com and all I can do is give it 5 STARS! My fiancee and I got a new bed, because the one we had was lumpy and uncomfortable (the bed, not the fiancee) and when we got it, our lives changed dramatically. Suddenly, everything was better, because we were getting a better night's sleep. Check out www.bedinabox.com next time you're online. You'll love their selection, their quality and the fact that they can get you the bedding fast and efficiently.

What's Happening to the "Top Chefs" of San Francisco?

We enjoy watching the show Top Chef (BRAVO), because it pits young chefs against each other and features some of the leading culinary kings in the world as guest judges. Now in its sixth season, it is the most popular reality cooking show on TV. Every season, they do the show from a different city and this year it’s in Chicago.
San Francisco initially featured four chefs (out of a total of 16) on this season's Top Chef. As a food lover's/top restaurant town, it just seemed fitting to see that The City by the Bay was so well-represented.
Well, the only problem is--the San Francisco chefs are falling off the board like flies. They are being sent back to their Bay Area kitchens like bad entrees. After six weeks, three are gone and the one that remains may not be around much longer.
The first to go was Erik Hopfinger, the executive chef at Circa in San Francisco. During the first episode, the bald, barrel-chested chef was cocky and seem self-assured--until they asked him to make a soufflé, at which point he looked like a rank amateur.
Making a soufflé is not easy; but surely it’s something an executive chef should be able to pull off. What Hopfinger created was a disaster. One of the judges described it as "glorified nachos." He actually put tortilla chips on top of the savory soufflé. It was like something you might find at Hooters or Chevy’s. It was disgusting.
Then, in episode number three, Guest Judge Rick Bayless (considered one of the world's top experts on Mexican cuisine) asked the contestants to create an upscale taco. Interesting variations included a vegetarian taco wrapped in a jicama tortilla from the challenge's winner, a non-San Francisco chef named Richard Blais.
Bayless' least favorite tacos included attempts by Hopfinger and fellow San Francisco Chef Ryan Scott (a Chef/Consultant at Myth Cafe in SF). Hopfinger's taco looked like bad street food. Think Taco Bell meets Roach Coach. Instead of being humble, Hopfinger later commented. "I don't think fine dining and Mexican go together," not something that was terribly smart to say in front of Bayless, a man who has successfully introduced high-end Mexican food to the United States. Hopfinger lost the challenge.
Then, in the elimination round, chefs were split into two teams and had to go door-to-door in the suburbs of Chicago and ask to raid their kitchens for ingredients that they would later use for a neighborhood block party. All four San Francisco chefs ended up on the same team.
It was a sad day for the SF chefs, three of whom were responsible for the worst rated dishes. When questioned about their menu choices, Zoi Antonitsas (an SF chef/restaurant consultant and Jennifer Biesty's--another SF contestant's-- lover) (see photo) said, "We just decided it was Middle America..." Another stupid thing to utter. Like people in Chicago are unsophisticated and won't enjoy the cuisine we consume in foodie-town San Francisco? She came off as pompous and stuck-up.
In the end, the worst dish was Hopfinger's corn dogs. They didn't transport well and ended up being cold and soggy. Erik was eliminated from the show, having failed to win one single challenge.
The other two worst-rated dishes were Scott’s mushy Waldorf salad and Antonitsas’ oily and bland pasta salad. (Come on --how hard is it to make a pasta salad?)
Pretty soon, it was Zoi’s turn to pack her knives. She failed to put salt on a mushroom dish she said was properly seasoned, and the Top Chef judges told her it was bland and flavorless, which meant she had to go. Antonitsas was not going to last that long anyway—her incessant complaining was getting old and she always seemed put-upon throughout the first four episodes.
When Zoi got the axe, it did not sit well with her lover, Jennifer (an executive chef at COCO500) who blamed team member Spike Mendelsohn (a NYC chef who cooks at Mai House) for the problems that existed with the dish. Spike wasn’t asked to season the dish-it was Zoi’s screw up and she blew it. Making excuses and blaming another chef just made her (and her girlfriend) look silly.
Zoi was visibly shocked when she heard the news, but anyone who was watching the episode could see it coming. Antonitsas was not plating impressive dishes. Seasoning food is one of the first things they teach you in culinary school.
When asked what went wrong with her dish, Antonitsas replied, “Sun chokes are tubers grown in the earth and mushrooms are very earthy.” Yes, but they still need to be seasoned. It’s Cooking 101.
The next San Francisco chef to get the cleaver was Ryan Scott, who should have been eliminated back in week one when he couldn’t even make a chicken piccatta. What he served was a breaded piece of poultry without capers or a butter sauce.
Luckily, someone else made a scampi dish that was worse, so Scott survived, until last week.
The challenge in week six involved feeding 80 football fans at a Chicago Bears’ tailgating party. But, instead of serving proper tailgating faire, Scoot made what he called “California Tailgate.” It included a bread salad and a poached pear dessert. It didn’t go well with the football fans or the judges. Scott was the third San Francisco chef to hit the long road home.
So, now after six episodes, three of the four Bay Area chefs are history. Jennifer Beisty is the only one left. How long will she last? I give her three weeks.
It just goes to show you—you can be a fancy chef with a lot of tricks and frills, but in the end, it all comes down to knowing the basics. Real chefs know how to do it all—including making soufflés, chicken piccatta and seasoned mushrooms. And that’s why the San Francisco chefs of Top Chef have been bottom feeders this year.

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The Artistic Side of This Great Game

It wouldn't be spring without baseball. Nor would it be spring without the annual "Art of Baseball" exhibition at the George Krevsky Gallery. Now in its 11th year, the exhibit opens with a reception on Thursday, May 1st, and will be on view through Saturday, June 7th.
I have been to this exhibition for the last three years and it is amazing. If you’re even a casual baseball fan, you’ll love the art and the stories behind it.
One of my favorite artists, Mark Ulriksen (who I interviewed for BrooWaha last year, see http://sf.broowaha.com/article.php?id=883) will be displaying his work. Many other very well-known local San Francisco and Bay Area artists will have their baseball images in this world-famous exhibition.This year's theme – Building a Team – refers not just to the coach's task of choosing a roster to play the game, but also to the curator's task of bringing together talented artists from all over the country who depict the game that obsesses fans of all ages. For five weeks the gallery's walls will be densely hung with over 40 artworks by more than 25 artists; men and women who interpret Abner Doubleday's invention through an artist's eye."You can observe a lot by watching," Yogi Berra said. You can also learn a lot about our national pastime by looking at the remarkable range of artworks that will be on view -- from hyperrealism to folk art, from commentary on current issues confronting the game to unapologetic doses of pure nostalgia. "Building a Team" will be a visual delight for the baseball lover, the art lover, and the many people who love them both.This year, artists include, Mark Ulriksen, known for his New Yorker covers, and Max Mason, whose pastels can be seen at the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Paintings by Curtis Wright depict classic PCL players against old-time billboards in the outfield, and Debbie Gallas has created a quilt that chronicles the history of the Athletics franchise. These can be seen together with Carl Aldana's watercolors of the Giant's Seals Stadium, and Arthur K. Miller's paintings of Mickey Mantle and Sandy Koufax. Building a Team: The Art of BaseballExhibition Dates: May 1 – June 7, 2008Opening Reception: Thursday, May 1st, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
77 Geary St. 2nd FloorSan Francisco, CA 94108Tel: (415) 397-9748Fax: (415) 397-9749

Our Salmon Are Dying and We're Fishing For Answers

We’re killing off our Pacific salmon population at an alarming rate and the situation is getting worse. This year there will probably be no salmon fishing season. If we keep going the way we’re going, I predict that the Pacific salmon will be completely extinct within our lifetimes, maybe sooner. We have to do everything we can to save this beautiful fish.

Salmon live most of their lives in the ocean but they are born and die in rivers and streams. Many West Coast rivers and streams have been seriously damaged by development. Dams block access to freshwater spawning habitat. More importantly, dams block young salmon when they try to leave the rivers of their birth and swim to the sea. Water diversions suck young salmon into pumps from which there is no escape.
Unchecked logging and cattle grazing along rivers and streams has destroyed many miles of freshwater habitat needed by salmon. Logging causes dirt to wash off logged hillsides and into salmon streams that buries the small gravel needed by salmon for their nests, or redds. Stream banks where cattle regularly feed often erode into salmon streams and bury the gravels beds.
Scientists estimate nearly 1400 genetically-isolated Pacific salmon populations once spawned from California to southern British Columbia. Due to dam building and other alterations of lakes and rivers, 406 or 29% of the salmon populations have become extinct in the last 240 years.
The winter-run Chinook salmon originating in California's Sacramento River were listed as threatened in 1990, but was reclassified to endangered in 1994. In 1992, the Snake River stock of sockeye salmon was listed as endangered wherever found. The spring-summer and fall runs of Chinook originating in Idaho's Snake River were listed as threatened in 1992. Others are being considered for listing, including the Columbia River (Washington) Chinook and Oregon Coast Coho salmon.
A 1991 report by the American Fisheries Society indicated that 214 of about 400 stocks of salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout in the Northwest and California are at risk of extinction. The report also indicated that 106 are already extinct.
The SalmonAid Festival will celebrate wild salmon and steelhead with a free, family-friendly, music festival in Oakland's famed Jack London Square on May 31 and June 1, 2008. Organized by the largest ever coalition of West Coast salmon advocates (including commercial, recreational and tribal fishermen, conservation organizations, chefs, restaurants, scientists, and many others), SalmonAid will raise awareness of the plight of west coast salmon populations, the rivers and streams they spawn in, and the many coastal and inland communities that rely on salmon for their livelihoods and survival. The festival will feature educational booths, activities and foods highlighting the natural history of salmon, as well as the history, culture and traditions of salmon towns and the peoples connected through our west coast salmon heritage - from Morro Bay, California to Bellingham, Washington, and inland to Idaho and Nevada.
By uniting commercial, tribal, and sport fishing interests with conservation organizations, chefs and restaurant owners, and the American consumer to celebrate and restore our wild salmon and healthy, free-flowing rivers, SalmonAid will inform the public about the historic, cultural, economic, dietary, and environmental benefits of healthy wild salmon populations and the threats to their continued existence. SalmonAid celebrates wild Pacific salmon as a valuable cultural resource for all Americans, an important economic resource for west Coast fishing communities, an exciting recreational fishing experience, a nutritious food source, and a vital ecological link between our freshwater and marine ecosystems. In addition, SalmonAid will raise funds to support education and habitat restoration efforts directed at re-establishing abundant wild, native Pacific salmon populations in Pacific coast watersheds.
(Portions of this article courtesy of www.salmonaid.org)

The Daily Unretirement of Brett Favre

If the Green Bay Packers are ravaged by injuries this season, retired quarterback Brett Favre said that he might consider returning should the NFL team reach out to him.
Is Brett Favre done playing football or not? Even though he announced his retirement last month, no one seems to be buying it. My feeling is that his heart just isn’t into it. Brett retired for some reason (maybe his wife wants him out of the game while his body is still intact), but you can tell that he really wants to get back in the game. The entire affair has reached ludicrous proportions. And the story is far from being over.
Now we have to listen to weekly Favre reports. He’s in. He’s out. He’s undecided. Every time another QB on another team gets hurt or holds out, we’re going to hear Brett Favre rumors. ESPN should just start a Favre Channel, with 24 hour Brett Favre news.
Here’s what you’ll get on a daily basis from the new Favre Channel:
“Brett had breakfast at Waffle House this morning. He ordered scrambled eggs, sausage and grits, but no toast. Does this means he’s coming back?”
Or…
“Brett mowed his front lawn this afternoon but did not trim his bushes. What can we surmise from this latest move?”
The person who is suffering the most here is Green Bay’s backup QB and new starter Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has patiently waited for his turn to start and now is his time. Favre is just making it more difficult for Rodgers to assume a leadership role with his constant waffling.
My advice to Favre is to just step down. You love football. We understand that. Well, then become a coach like your father. Buy an Arena Football team. Get into broadcasting. But, stop all this indecision and speculation. You’re a Hall of Famer. You won a Super Bowl. What more do you have to prove?
If you come back, Brett, you’re risking everything—and for what? Some big defensive end is going to pancake you and break your neck and you’ll regret it. Quit while you’re ahead of the game. Just walk away.
This appeared on http://www.cbssportsline.com/ today:
Will Brett Favre come back if Aaron Rodgers gets injured?
"It would be hard to pass up, I guess," Brett Favre told the Biloxi Sun Herald yesterday. "But three months from now, say that presents itself, I may say, you know what, I'm so glad I made that decision (to retire). I feel very comfortable in what I'm doing and my decision."
But if Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury?
"Aaron has fallen into a great situation," Favre said. "And if that opportunity presented itself and they did call, it would be tempting. And I very well could be enticed do it."
Favre understands the kind of challenge he would face should he opt to go back to the NFL after ending his record-setting 17-year career. And he made it clear he is not changing his mind at this time.
"But to think that if they called me in October and told me, 'Hey, we need you this week.' That would be hard," Favre said in a story that appeared on the paper's website on Tuesday. "I'm sure mentally, I would be refreshed. I'd be away from it for a long time. But mentally versus physically, the last thing I'd want to do is go up and it's 'Oh this is great' and all that stuff and me be excited and then just flop.
"You just can't show up and play."
There has been a steady flow of speculation that Favre would have a change of heart following the March 4 announcement by the league's only three-time MVP that he was retiring.
Favre said he would not return unless he was in shape.
"It would be hard to go up there at 38. It was hard to stay in shape. I say that, I worked out and I worked out hard," he said. "Week in and week out, I was just drained. Finally, for the first time, I felt, not that 38 is old, but I looked around at practice and these guys are bouncing around. And I practiced every day and all the time people would ask me ... `How do you do it? Inside I'm saying, 'I have no idea.' It's a struggle."

My First Stalker!

(FYI: Broowaha is a citizen writers network that I write for in conjunction with this blog.)
BrooWaha and my blogging experience have brought me joy, fame and an outlet for my writing. And now -- my very first stalker!
A buddy of mine called me last week and said, “Hey dood, have you Googled your name lately?” Unlike John Mayer, I don’t Google myself every day.
“You have a stalker, man,” he informed me. “What the heck,” I replied. “I thought stalkers were for celebrities, not bloggers.”
I guess I was wrong. I Googled my name and lo and behold, I found my first hater. I’m not going to tell you the name of his blog, because he (or she) doesn’t deserve the publicity. But, here is what they wrote:
“I know a lot of you are wondering “what’s up with f-----g Broowaha lately”? Well I’ll tell you, Ed Attanasio just can’t stop writing about everything from the San Jose Sharks to what’s the best hot dog in San Francisco. He’s like a serial killer with a sharpened wit and nothing to do but blog.
Our sources have discovered that Ed’s bloggfrenzy could be a due to the fact that he’s in an insane asylum and has access to a computer. One of our sources at a MAJOR MENTAL INSTITUTE has seen Ed A. (patient 09879-41) scribbling ideas on anything he can get his hands on. From toilet paper to game boards. Here’s just a brief shining example of his latest literary contribution.
“…when the women I kill scream, they almost sound operatic. That’s why I like to keep them alive for as long as I can before strangling them.”
This is the first in a 10-part series profiling the life and times of San Francisco’s busiest blogger, Ed Attanasio.
We’ll bring you more each day as this tale of “blogging gone wrong” unfolds.”
The person who wrote this also went to a lot of trouble to put 5 photos of me on their blog, pictures that have been placed on blogs and web sites I write for. That must have taken a lot of time and trouble to do something like that. It means that they had to go through all the sites I’ve ever written for and cut and paste the photos from each. Wow. Stalking can be a lot of work, it seems.
Another troubling thing is that he/she has me listed on his/her blog as “Dead Attanasio.” Nice, huh?
This whole thing represents an “I told you so” moment for my fiancée. When I first started blogging in July of 2006, she told me that I could not put her real name or her photo on my blog. (That’s why I always refer to her as “Angelina”) She also warned me against putting photos of myself or my real name on my blog. “They’re a lot of haters out there,” she warned me. I scoffed. Well, I’m not scoffing now.
When I first started writing for BrooWaha, somebody sent me a message on my blog that said, “You’re writing too much on Broo. You’re hogging the venue and should back off.” Wow, I thought at the time. That’s a pretty snarky thing to say.
But, I like to write. About the Sharks and hot dogs and stuff like that. So sue me. And stalk me, if it gets you off. One thing is certain -- this idiot won’t slow me down. He or she (a disgruntled former Broo-ster, perhaps?) has only given me a new zeal for writing….and blogging.

The Stinky Truth About Bathroom Advertising

We see advertising just about everywhere we go. Several years ago, a guy auctioned off advertising space on his forehead. He got an anti-snoring medication company to buy it for $30,000. Last year a woman sold ad space on her cleavage. Hooters purchased the space for $12,000 and a lifetime supply of bad chicken wings. As competition in the marketplace heats up, companies are frantically searching for new places to place their ads.
Marketing experts estimate that the average adult is bombarded by more than 1,500-2,000 ad messages per week. Companies will put their name on anything – pens, hats, sunglasses, towels, even body parts– and the ad specialty industry is operating at an all-time high.
Then, you have all of the “conventional forms of advertising” -- TV, radio (both terrestrial and satellite) print publications, the Internet, movie theaters, billboards, bus boards, ads on shopping carts, on the backs of receipts, on public transit and even in the bathroom. That’s right – most of us have probably seen it – restroom advertising has become commonplace in every city throughout the world.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the bathroom I want peace and quiet. Especially if I haven’t eaten well that day and am experiencing problems in there. Relieving oneself can be an arduous task all by itself, without having to stare at ads about computer software, bicycle repair and Hawaiian vacations.
I called a woman named Aretha Pearles the other day. She runs a company called “Crapitol City Advertising” out of Washington D.C. They’re one of the world leaders in restroom advertising. She explained the why’s, how’s and where’s of this burgeoning form of promotional marketing.
“Bathroom ads are exploding,” Pearles said. “People are more open to messages when they’re doing their business in the john. We’ve found a higher rate of retention happens in there, because it’s a crucial moment for most folks and they’re concentrating more. The messages they get in the bathroom have proven to last longer in the customer’s mind than they normally will in other locations. Whether you’re dropping a growler on simply urinating quickly, you’re going to remember something you saw in the bathroom more than if you saw it on the street, for example.”
Some of Crapitol’s main advertisers are X-Lax (“If they are having movement issues, it’s a good thing to consider for next time.”); Charmin (“It’s softer and won’t chafe those sensitive areas”) and Preparation H (“More than 50 people die each year from severe hemmies--did you know that?”)
Pearles’ company did a study and found that:
· 84% of the people polled remember seeing specific ads in the washrooms
· 92% were able to name specific advertisers without prompting
· 88% recalled at least 4 selling points in the ads surveyed
· 40% of the people polled got so excited about the ads they saw in the washroom that they soiled themselves or encountered spillage
· 8% were upset by the ads they saw and became suddenly constipated.
Pearles sees all kinds of new, exciting opportunities in bathroom advertising. “We’re developing programs right now to run ads in outhouses, on toilet paper, sanitary napkins, disposable/edible underwear, urinal cakes and toilet seat covers. This market is flowing at a tremendous rate, especially in places like Tijuana and New Orleans, where they have all that spicy food and people spend more time in the bathroom.”

The 2008 NY Mets--As Good As It Gets!

NL EAST

After pulling one of the worst choke jobs in the history of baseball (’51 Brooklyn Dodgers, anyone?) the New York Mets are better for one reason: Johan Santana. It was a major move getting the all-star pitcher and the dividends should be immediate. If he wins 15 games, it will be a disappointment, let’s put it that way. There are still several question marks on this team, however. One is age. Moises Alou, Luis Castillo and Carlos Delgado aren’t spring chickens anymore. The other is catching. Newcomer Brian Schneider may not be the answer. And the third question is named Pedro. Can Pedro Martinez be the all-star pitcher he once was? Will he rebound from injury? If he can, the Mets will be tough to beat, with a starting rotation led by two of the finest hurlers in the game. Throw an improving John Maine and a tough bullpen led by Billy Wagner into the Big Apple’s picture, and what you have is a lot of opponents’ whiffing and whining. Manager Willie Randolph seemed surprised that he wasn’t fired by GM Omar Minaya after last season’s debacle. If he doesn’t win with this stellar squad, he might not get another chance. With Jose Reyes leading off and jumpstarting the offensive attack; David Wright holding down 3B and hitting taters; and Carlos Beltran doing what Beltran does – the Mets are the team to beat not just in the NL East, but in the entire league.

The Atlanta Braves have four future HOFer’s on their team (Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz) if you also include Skipper Bobby Cox. It’s hard to believe that they won only one World Series after taking all those division titles. One of the problems is that Glavine is 42 and Smoltz is 40. Glavine didn’t have a great year last season (4.45 ERA) and Smoltz seems more hittable than ever, which isn’t surprising when you consider his age. The Braves have some solid bats throughout their lineup, including Jones, Mark Texeira, Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur. Andrew Jones is gone to LA-LA Land, but the team picked up Mark Kotsay to replace him. The way A.J. was hitting, it might be an improvement. LF Matt Diaz is a top prospect and could contribute almost immediately. On the mound, the Braves are hoping that Tim Hudson can regain his old form, because their prospects for a decent fourth starter look dim. Mike Hampton, the guy who has made a career out of hauling in huge money while being injured, is slated for the spot, but he has proven to be more fragile than a porcelain China doll. Pitching prospect Jair Jurrjens has a live arm and could step in, as could either Jo-Jo Reyes and/or Chuck James. I like a lot about this team and with a few breaks they could make it to the postseason. But, it’s more likely that they’ll finish far behind the Mets and several games out of the wild card spot.

The Philadelphia Phillies made a great run last year, right up until they ran head-on into a surging Colorado Rockies squad. They won’t even make the playoffs this season, in my estimation. This team is loaded with top-tier talent, with names on their roster like MVP Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. But, the departure of Aaron Rowand to San Francisco will hurt the Phils more than they probably realize. This Pete Rose throwback never stops hustling and all his teammates love him, so that fact that he’s gone isn’t good news. Philly’s pitching rotation is a case of Cole Hamels and not much else. Brett Myers will go back into the starting five after being used as a closer late last season, but with names like Moyer, Eaton, Kendrick and possibly Benson after that, this team’s pitching is likely to be its Achilles Heel in 2008. GM Pat Gillick went out during the off-season and picked up reliever Brad Lidge, who is coming off a knee injury and may not be ready when the season starts. Trouble will reign if he isn’t ready to go. Manager Charlie Manuel may also run into problems if some of his marquee players start reading their press clippings. The City of Brotherly Love will flirt with the playoffs, but in the end I just don’t see them putting it together enough to make it happen this season.

The Florida Marlins traded their two best players to the Detroit Tigers, but they still have a ton of good, young kids on the field and in the pipeline. The Tigers gave the Big Fish a group of promising future stars who will be the nucleus of the team within the next few years. And now that the Marlins look like they’re going to get a new stadium, they can stockpile some good players and try to build another contending team. With an influx of cash (which a new ball park should bring) there’s no excuse for this team to trade away top players once they become too expensive. But, for now, the Florida Marlins (who will be changing their name to the Miami Marlins when their new park opens) are pretty atrocious. Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermedia and Josh Willingham have proven they can hit. Cameron Maybin is a promising kid with many skills. The pitching staff is full of unknowns-NL teams will regularly feast on these arms-and the Marlins will hook themselves some victories here and there. But, they surely won’t contend-at least not anytime soon.

The Washington Nationals have a new stadium. That’s the good news. They have to field a team to fill the place. And that’s where the bad news begins. Manager Manny Acta has a team that is full of huge holes and big problems. Not one of his pitchers has ever won more than seven games. And he’s got two new guys who have three-and-a-half egos between them (Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes). If the Nats can be even slightly competitive, it will be close to miraculous. The fact that they won 73 games last year was amazing and a tribute to Acta. Don’t get me wrong. This squad has a few bright spots within an otherwise pretty dim-looking crew. Paul Lo Duca, Aaron Boone and Austin Kearns should provide a little pop at the plate and some much-needed leadership. Willy Mo Pena (if not injured) is a solid part to this confusing puzzle. And Chad Cordero will save some games if there are any that need saving. All in all, it will be a long season in a nice, new park for the Washington Nationals in 2008.

NL CENTRAL

One hundred. That’s the number the Chicago Cubs are going to be forced to live with all season long. They’ve been hearing it all winter, and they’re going to hear it all spring and summer long. The Cubs have not won a World Series in 100 years, and just to get there, they’re going to have to make the postseason for the second straight year—something they also haven’t done in a century. Fortunately for the Cubs, little has changed in the inferior NL Central, with no divisional opponent spending hundreds of millions of dollars on players as Chicago did last year. Better yet, the Cubs are walking into the new campaign feeling more at ease, having proved they can win after burdening $300 million dollars worth of expectations upon their shoulders last season. If Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome is every bit the equal of, say, a Hideki Matsui, he’ll provide some terrific glue to an already potent offense that includes Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. A fine starting rotation is anchored by Carlos Zambrano, who not only brings 18 wins from last season but is feeling content to boot, having signed for five years and $90 million. The only mystery at Wrigley Field remains who will close; the sexy option is former starter Kerry Wood, but he’ll have to prove he can condense all that gas into his arm for one inning every couple nights without—all together, now—re-injuring himself. All in all, the Cubs will KO one century-old drought by returning to the postseason. Will they overcome the other, far more famous 100-year run? In today’s MLB, when even the Colorado Rockies can reach the World Series, anything is possible.

Dusty Baker is a fast starter. In his first year managing San Francisco, the Giants posted 103 wins. When he managed the Cubs for the first time, in 2003, they came within five outs of a World Series appearance. Now Baker brings his act to the Cincinnati Reds, a team with two hitting stars (Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.) each in the last year of their contracts, two upscale starters (Aaron Harang and Brandon Arroyo), promising stars of the future (Joey Votto and Homer Bailey) and a legitimate closer via free agency (Francisco Cordero). Put all of this together, and the Reds, in my opinion, will be the closest thing to a surprise in the NL. Then again, they’d better make an impression; if Baker can’t work his first-year magic and Dunn and Griffey bolt after the season, there will be a sense of starting over in 2009. So the future is more or less now for the Reds, and Baker is the perfect tonic to make the present a good thing.

The Milwaukee Brewers are getting a lot of attention from the pundits following a solid showing last year, and much of it is justified. It’s hard to argue against a team that has two under-25 sluggers (Prince Fielder and reigning NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun) who went nuts with the bat in 2007. But the Brewers are handcuffed with some major disabilities; the defense is atrocious, they carry two catchers (Johnny Estrada and Jason Kendall) who can’t throw any base stealers out, and closer Francisco Cordero (44 saves) has left town, replaced by Eric Gagne—whose 2007 went from good (Texas) to bad (Boston) to worse (the Mitchell Report). What ultimately may keep Milwaukee upright is its starting rotation, but only if Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano can stay healthy and effective.

I picked the Houston Astros to win the NL Central last year. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…well, the Astros are doing everything to try and cast shame on me and win now, but I doubt that’s going to happen. The team has cleaned house; there’s a new manager (Cecil Cooper), new GM (Ed Wade), new closer (Jose Valverde) and just two everyday position players (Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman) returning from Opening Day of last season. Yes, Houston also snagged Miguel Tejada, but his production isn’t what it used to be and will likely suffer further now that the Mitchell Report will dog his tail wherever he goes this year—not exactly the intangible the Astros are looking for. This team should hit; besides the vets, they have last year’s rookie sensation Hunter Pence (.322, 17 homers) and a potential A-list slugger in rookie catcher Justin Towles, but for all the production they put up, the Astros will pray that something good comes out of a weak rotation beyond premier ace Roy Oswalt. To be honest, this team is something of an enigma. I doubt I’ll get fooled again.

Next, we have the Pittsburgh Pirates who don’t do anything. After finishing with the NL’s worst record in 2007, the Pirates stood pat. Now, that’s okay if you’re the Boston Red Sox; they’re the champions. But Pittsburgh, a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 1992? Even some of the team’s better players (Jason Bay, Xavier Nady) are scratching their heads over the Bucs’ do-nothing philosophy, and they used the team’s winter funfest—an event designed as a feel-good mixing of players, fans and media—to air their complaints. The state of affairs in Pittsburgh has become almost criminal; the Bucs have the beautiful ballpark they told fans had to be built so the revenue can pour in and allow them to compete. The public certainly did its part by providing the funds to build PNC Park, but the Pirates have not carried out their end of the bargain. The team does hold promise—especially with a starting rotation that’s developing more slowly than anticipated—but “promise” has become a tiring word to Pirate fans, who would rather hear “results” instead. Not this year. Again.

But wait—I’m not picking the Pirates to finish last. I’m reserving that spot for the St. Louis Cardinals, who have tremendous potential to completely collapse in 2008. It’s all but assured if megastar Albert Pujols’ bad elbow finally gets the better of him and is forced to shut down sometime during the season. Beyond Pujols, there’s trouble everywhere with this team. Chris Carpenter will not pitch until late in the year if at all; Mark Mulder will be back sooner, but he needs to prove, for the first time since 2005, that he can pitch effectively; Juan Encarnacion is out all year, still recovering from that freak on-deck circle injury late last season; and boomers Troy Glaus and Rick Ankiel have been fingered as steroid users and have not responded well to their accusations. Then there’s a clubhouse still drenched with the afterthoughts of Ryan Hancock’s drunk-driving death and the recent release of Scott Spiezio, who survived his own drunk-driving adventures but faces a scroll’s worth of misdemeanor charges back in California. Otherwise, the level of talent on this roster is approaching paper-thin. Tony LaRussa somehow signed on to all of this for two more years, but if he gets this team anywhere over .500, he’s Manager of the Year.


NL WEST

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a young, balanced and well-coached team that will win the NL West and with any luck could make it all the way to the Fall Classic. Manager Bob Melvin must be salivating like one of Pavlov’s mutts when he views this team on paper. When you look at their starting rotation, featuring stoppers like Brandon Webb, newcomer Danny Haren, Doug Davis and Mike Owings--not to mention future HOFer Randy Johnson—it’s hard to believe that this team won’t win 100 games. Offensively, the D-Bax are stacked as well--with names like Byrnes, Drew, Reynolds, Hudson and Upton. They lack power, but make up for it with smart play and enthusiasm. There are no prima donnas on this team, just hungry solid performers. Arizona got into the playoffs last season, even though their opponents outscored them by 20 runs. That won’t happen this year. The only big question with this group is—“Will Brandon Lyon be able to replace Jose Valverde’s 47 saves?” If he can, watch out. The D-Bax are ready to break out and this is the year they could do it.

Fans in Colorado rode a Rocky Mountain High last season when the Rockies came out of nowhere and nearly took the whole thing. That’s not going to happen this season. The team just has too many question marks and holes to fill. For one, the starting pitchers are very good, but there’s little depth. After Francis and Jimenez, you have a bunch of guys who have never put together anything more than a semi-successful season. The bats on the Rockies are formidable – Matt Holliday had an MVP season last year and should be one of the league’s toughest outs again this season. And Troy Tulowitzki is an amazingly poised player for being so green. But, guys like prospect Ian Stewart and up-and-down sluggers like Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins will have to have stellar seasons if this team is to repeat last year’s performance. Don’t bet the house on it. This team is more likely to get lost in the mountains than it is to climb to the pinnacle of the NL once more.

In the City of Angels, the Dodgers are looking forward to exiting Vero Beach as their Spring Training site and moving their camp to Arizona next year. Joe Torre is at the helm and ready to look good wearing Dodger Blue. But, unfortunately for the Hollywood Bums this team is full of more holes and question marks than they were last season. No one knows if Jason Schmidt will pitch effectively again. Juan Pierre is out-of-place and feels unwanted. And the team paid big bucks for Andruw Jones, who they hope can provide power. Sure, the team has some young studs (Kemp, Loney, Ethier, LaRoche and Billingsley), but they also have a lot of brittle oldsters (Garciaparra and Kent). Yes, the Dodgers’ staring rotation looks good with guys like Penny and Lowe leading the way. And with Saito in the pen, you’re bound to get 30 to 40 saves. But, to pick this crew to win any more than 75 games this season would be crazy when you look at the other dynamic teams in this division. Get your young kids some valuable experience this year, Torre. L.A. is at least a year away from getting into the playoff picture.


If pitching wins games, the San Diego Padres have a shot at winning this division. Unfortunately, you also have to score a few runs to be victorious on a consistent basis. The Pads’ starting rotation is awesome – lead by Cy Young winner Jake Peavy and followed by names like Maddux, Young and Wolf – but their bats are weaker than a Happy Hour drink at an airport bar. CF Jim Edmonds is old and tired, as is 2B Marcus Giles. Up-and-coming 3B Kevin Kouzamanoff is still a couple of years away from being a stud and rookie Chase Headley will need time to develop. There’s just no pop in this lineup. Playing in home run unfriendly Petco Park means they could set an all-time record for fewest dingers. Future HOFer and Trevor Hoffman (who choked big-time late in the season last year and showed he was merely mortal) definitely won’t be closing out as many games as he did last season. His team will rarely be ahead late in games. San Diego will drop a lot of 3-2 and 2-1 contests this year and will fade quickly in the NL West race.

The San Francisco Giants have a slogan this year that says something like “We’re going full out all season.” What it should say is “We’re going to be out of it all season.” If the Giants lose their first series this season, they won’t spend a single day atop the NL West. Everything on this team is suspect--from a young, pitching staff led by Cain, Lowery and Lincecum--to an aging lineup led (or misled) by names like Roberts, Vizquel, Durham and Aurilia. These guys might be going through a re-building stage, except for the fact that they don’t have enough to re-build with. The Giants are the midgets of the NL West and will dwell all alone in the cellar all season.


THE POSTSEASON

Ed’s playoff picks:
NL: New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs
NL Champion: New York Mets
AL: Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels
AL Champion: Detroit Tigers
World Series Champion: Detroit Tigers