Move over Arsene

The FA has a new person that they are after, its not Arsene Wenger, and really its not a person at all. The FA is going to call a hearing about the sending off of Kingsley the Lion, the mascot of Reading Football Club. Kinglsey was sent off during win over Newcastle last week for making abusive gestures toward the ref. At the time the ref thought it was a Reading player that was making the gestures.

"Ref Mike Riley sent off Kingsley during Reading's 1-0 win over Newcastle. The FA officials confirmed the 6ft 5in furry-suit-wearing cheerleader faces an official warning,'' The Daily Mirror said.

Here is so video of Kinglsey during a happier time. I really think The FA has lost it. These are the same people that brought us Sven, to the 10 year construction of their new national stadium, to banning a mascot for a couple of games, The FA really covers a lot of ground.

Is Brian Brohm the next Brady Quinn

Gone are the names of Johnson, Quinn, Adams, and Peterson. They are now replaced by the names of Brohm, Sweed, and Long. Its never too early to look ahead the NFL Draft class of 2008. Quarterback Brian Brohm passed up being a first round pick this year and decided to head back to Louisville for his senior season, just like a former Golden Domer with a pale girl friend. Hopefully he will not $20 million fall through his hands, like the domer did.

Here is a list of some of the highly rated 2008 prospects.

Welcoming back some old friends

As the NWO used to say, ""We're getting the band back together.''

That is what is going to happen next year in the EPL. With results going the way they did in the Championship ole United boys Roy Keane (pictured above punching a Chelsea player during the Community Shield) and Steve Bruce will bring their boys up to EPL. Keane, who took over at Sunderland after four games, is best know as being the Captain for so many great United sides.

In a year when the Devils are going for the treble you can only think back to his performance in Italy against Juventus that took them to the Champions League Final and Glory. After picking up a yellow card early in the second leg of the semi against the Italian power, Keane knew he was going to be suspended for the final. So Keane put the team on his back and willed them into the final against Bayern Munich. Most consider it one of the best games every played by a player.

While Bruce, who is the current manager at Birmingham City, was also a midfield general at Old Trafford.

So with Bruce and Keano on their way back to the top of English football United are starting to take over. In addition to Mark Hughes at Blackburn and Sir Alex at United, there will be four managers with ties to the Red Devils.

Is John Clayton real?

Anyone who is anyone is at the NFL Draft for ESPN, but one person is missing John Clayton. He is there in his usually via satellite situation. Over the last couple of weeks I've started to wonder if the Seattle native, who looks like the puppet (right) in the Saw Movies, is real.

I do not think that I've seen him in studio at ESPN or any where live. Usually when you see him he standing at some field in the middle of nowhere or he is being brought in with a background of Seattle behind him.

So this weekend, when all of the questions are answered about the future of players, there is one that still remains: Is John Clayton real?

This ranch is not big enough for the both of us

Over the past decade Mel Kiper has had the NFL Draft all to him self, but this year that has all changed. ESPN has brought in Todd McShay, Scout Inc., to help out with the NFL Draft. Kiper and McShay are totally different.

Here is a break down of how they stack up.

Hair Color:
McShay (left): Dark Brown
Kiper (right): black hair with lots of gel in it. Makes an Pedro Martinez gerry curly look clean.

Voice:
McShay: nice and mellow
Kiper: a voice that only Bill Tobin could love

Playing Experience
McShay: Tried to walk on at the University of Richmond, and was a little used defensive back
Kiper: Never put on a jock

Interesting Tidbit
McShaw: Scott Van Pelt has yet to nail his impression of him.
Kiper: He has stated that he eats a slice of pumpkin pie everyday for breakfast.

As you see the end of Kiper is coming and coming fast and GMs all over the NFL thank you.

"The Jump" out of the League

Three years ago Ian O'Connor spent a whole season with then hot shot high school senior Sebastain Telfair detailing it in a book named "The Jump." Only a couple of years after that book came out, Telfair has had a falling out with his second NBA team, and could be on his way out of the league for good. Earlier in the week, Telfair was arrested on gun charges and the Celtics have had enough of the Coney Island Prodigy.

"I wanted to let you know that we have removed Sebastian's nameplate from his locker in Waltham. The facts and circumstances of his case have not been determined but he does not have a Celtics locker and we do not anticipate that he will," Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck wrote in an e-mail to The Boston Globe on Tuesday.

This is not the first time that he has been involved in an hand gun incident, back in Feb. 2006 he was involved in the similar incident. Then he was also involved in an incident where a chain was stolen from him. Just to make things worst Telfair was featured in the Teairra Mari music video to "Make her Feel Good" It just seems that trouble always follows him everywhere.

The NFL Draft is the greatest way to waste time

From Peter King to Mel Kiper. From Russell to Quinn. You can kill a whole day on the Internet reading stuff associated with the NFL Draft. While looking around the Internet on Monday I found another great website to waste time, Rookiepedia. Its like Wikipedia, but with just draft eligible players, what are they going to think of next.

Hey everyone makes mistakes

Ryan Anderson, Carlos Pena, Joe Borchard, Drew Henson (pictured), and Dennis Tankersly. Those are the prospects that were ranked ahead of 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau in the 2002 list of prospects. Baseball people say that scouting is an inexact science and boy were they right with this class. While some in the class like Josh Beckett, Hank Blalock, Joe Mauer Mark Teixeria, and Jake Peavy have made a huge impact on the came, the group is dotted with train wrecks and in Henson and Borchard two over rated quarterbacks.

Here is a list of some of the top 15 prospects from the Top 100 list:

1. Josh Beckett Marlins
2. Hank Blalock Rangers
3. Sean Burroughs Padres
4. Nick Johsnon Yankees
5. Mark Prior Cubs
6. Wilson Betemit Braves
7. Juan Cruz Cubs
8. Ryan Anderson Mariners
9. Joe Borchard White Sox
10. Mark Teixeira Rangers
11. Nick Neugerbauer Brewers
12. Carlos Pena Rangers
13. Jon Rauch White Sox
14. Dennis Tankersley Padres
15. Drew Henson Yankees

Hey on some list Morneau was behind New Jersey native Jack Cust, ya I have no clue who he is either. The Nationals have two of the top 15 on this list and they are not named Teixeria and Beckett, that might explain why they are so bad.

Its all about the cake

For a week Rutgers women basketball coach C.Vivian Stringer went on a world wind tour about how her girls were offended by Don Imus's comment about the national runners. So now that Imus is in the process of being paid off, Stringer is back in the news. During the media tour, Stringer said it was about the girls getting their names back and not about her getting better recruits or making more money. But that all changed on Wednesday when Stringer signed a book deal with Crown Books to write her autobiography. Wonder how much cake she is getting for this book deal.

"The reality is that she has led an extraordinary life and is very inspiring and a role model for women," said an official with Crown books said.

Ok she is a good coach, but she is not in the same league as Pat Summitt or even crazy Geno at UConn. They both have countless National Championship titles compared to her zero.

This deals comes from the Imus situation, I wonder how many chapters of the book will touch on Imus. I bet there will be no mention of her recruitment of Shalicia Hurns and why she was thrown off the team. I also hope that she addresses why Cappie Pondexter missed half a year a couple of years ago. Those are just a couple of suggestions for chapter topics.

Its not the south of France

Come 2012, European soccer team supporters will get to spend their summer in Poland and the Ukraine , yes Poland and a former Russian Providence. Earlier this week, UEFA announced that the Euro 2012 would be headed to Eastern Europe and people around Europe could not be happier.

Instead of spending a nice summer in south of France, Spain or Greece. Fans are going to spend their time in the former home of the communism. At this rate I hope that the NCAA does not decide to award the Final Four to Des Moise, Iowa.

The Dream Final

You think the English FA is not happy. The first FA Cup back at the home of soccer is going to a cracker as Chelski and Manchester United face off for the oldest prize in the sport. Could you see a thrilling 3-2 game, that people talk about for generation. But more in line with all things English it will probably be a 0-0 game that bores even me to sleep. So on May 19 the eyes of the soccer world will be on the home of soccer again.

Sweet Lou is at it again

It only took Lou Pinella two weeks before he popped his top with the Chicago Cubs. After a Friday afternoon loss to the Reds, Pinella let the press have it.

"What the hell do you think isn't working? You see the damn game.''

Then this classic:

"And then I bring in the reliever who's throwing 30- to 40-foot curveballs to boot. I can see. I can start to see some of the ways this team has lost ballgames. I can see it. We've got to correct it obviously. ... This game here is one that got away from us that really shouldn't."

While he was at it Pinella took a shot at his ace Carlos Zambrano:

"This guy is your ace, you got a 5-0 lead with the eighth and ninth hitters coming up, you feel pretty good about that inning and all of a sudden it turns into a six-run inning.''

But Sweet Lou is no stranger to great quotes here are a couple of old school ones:

• "I cussed him out in Spanish, and he threw me out in English."
• "Statistics are like bikinis. They show a lot, but not everything."

Not A Bad Week

• Roma 7-1.
• Watford 4-1
• The best player in the world decides to sign a new five year deal.

I would have to say United might be having the Best Week Ever.

Earlier in the week United made the second place team in Italian League look like a pub side during the Quarterfinals of the Champions League. By the Way did Chistian Chivu have the worst mask ever for a broken nose, he should have talked to Psycho T for some advice.

Then on Friday Ronaldo decides to extend his stay at the Theatre of Dreams for another five years. Then on Saturday United beat the worst team in the EPL to make the FA Cup final. All in all it has been a good week. Hopefully United can recreate the Treble of 1999/1998.

NBA bloggers are not fantastic

What do Flea and Bayer Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves have in common?

They are both basketball experts, ya I did not know this either.

The pair along with a french commentator and a actor all have blogs on NBA.com. But there is a small problem some of them have not been updated since the All Star game.

• Actor Eric Millegan has not updated his since Nov. 2006.
• Hargreaves has not updated his since the All Star Game, I guess he had time to blog while he was rehabbing his broken leg earlier this year.
• French Commentator George Eddy has not updated his since Nov. 2006.
• The best one of the group appears to be long time Laker fan and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Flea. His blog was last updated on March 23.

We all know NBA action is fantastic, but please update your blogs. I really want to hear what a English International Midfielder has to say about the 2-3 zone and how to defend the pick and roll.

The Masters: Bad Clothing Like No Other

The Masters can mean only two things great drama and bad clothing. This year there are a wide variety of different styles including golden shoes, purple and white shirts. But this year the award for worst dress goes to everyone favorite Arsenal fan Ian Poulter.

Paul Scholes is the New 'Sheed

Move over Rasheed Wallace there is a new bad boy in town, Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes. So far this year he has been shown three red cards. The first came during a preseason Tournament in Amsterdam, then he was shown another when he tried to take off Liverpool Midfielder Xabi Alonso's head earlier in the season, and last and not least he was sent off for his second yellow card in the Champions League game against Italian side Roma.

Throughout his long United career, Scholes has been no stranger to being sent off for bad tackles. So far this season Scholes has received nine yellow cards and two red cards. To make the comparison complete Scholes is the only English player to be sent off during an international at Wembley.

And you thought Augusta National was bad

More than a decade ago, Augusta National Golf Club asked CBS go to show announcer Gary McCord the door. At that time McCord stated that Augusta's famous greens were made faster with ''bikini wax.'' Since making the statement, McCord has yet to be seen on the Masters.

Fast forward approximately a decade and the English Football Association is acting like the gang at Augusta National. The FA has decided to move its TV rights deal from BBC to ITV and Sentata in part because of the criticism of BBC analysts Alan Hansen and Gary Lineker over the Three Lions recent performances recently.

All I know is that Mike and the Mad Dog better watch cause George might be pulling them off of YES, if they continue to act like they are acting.

Chasing History, the wrong way

While Barry Bonds continues to try to catch Hank Aaron, the Washington Nationals might also be heading for a record too. If the first couple of games of the season are any sign, the Nationals might loose a 140 games this year. Through the first two games of the season the Marlins have kicked the Nationals around like a Triple A team.

• I think that you can add the Nationals list at the end of the season.

There is always next year

Now that Florida has become one of greatest teams in college basketball history. Its time to look forward to next year and that can mean only one thing North Carolina preseason number 1. At least that will help me get over the Georgetown game for at least a couple days.

• CNNSI.COM preseason rankings.

This makes me happy

Every since the North Carolina lost to Georgetown in the East Regional final on Sunday I have been looking for something to cheer me up and I final found it. Check out all of the great Sports Illustrated covers the UNC have been on over the years

Sam and Mike: Where their two any better

You can never forget the Greatest College Basketball coach of all time.

Seth Davis and the Crew must have know something about the 2004-2005 season

Hey there were right, that team was not that bad only four lottery picks.

Hey Georgetown is a good academic school

With all of the talk of the great of the return of the Georgetown basketball program to the national stage, one thing that is being over looked. The stellar academic record of John Thompson III. A couple of years ago Thompson recruited a kid with a grade point average less than mine in college.

I want to invoke Endy in the Outfield's friends Carolina Panther theory. Last year, it came out that several Carolina Panthers were using steroids when they beat the Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Endy friends said the NFC championship, should be with the Eagles. Now I think that North Carolina should be sent the Final Four instead of the Hoyas. Hey there is still time.

Chelski is the target, not global warming

So Sir Alex has a couple of rivals this year. The first is the Russian oil empire of Chelski and the other is global warming. SAF is scheduled to meet with inventor of the internet Al Gore about the issue of global warming. Right now I think that SAF should be spending more time trying to figure out how to win the league, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.

Pava-NO!

By Endy in the Outfield

How sweet it is in New York City. One week ago everything seemed normal in the city, the Mets had two soon-to-be AARP members on the front end of their rotation and roughly 78 others competing for the last rotation spot. While the Yankees rotation seemed pretty solid with Chien Meng Wang set to be the opening day starter and Carl Pavano staying out of trouble. How fast things can change in New York. With Wang straining his hammy, Andy Pettitte's questionable availability, and Kei Igawa being Japanese it looks as though, GASP!, Carl Pavano will be the opening day starter. Yes that Carl Pavano. The Carl Pavano whom Yankee fans trust and adore. The four year $40 million pitcher who since they signed him has been on the DL with an injured right shoulder, bruised buttocks, and two broken ribs that were suffered in a car crash that he failed to tell his bosses about for two weeks following the accident (hey at least he told them on the same day they were about to take him off the DL for the bruised buttocks). Yes Yankee fans Carl Pavano will be your opening day starter. Oh and by the way it seems like the Amazin's found that fifth starter in 23 year old Mike Pelfrey who's posted a 2.84 ERA in Spring training. Suck on that Yankee fans.

We're starting to look like a soccer playing country

So we can not get out of the group stages at the World Cup, but now we're starting to really look like we can play. On Sunday the United States Men National team introduced their new jersey in a international friendly against Ecuador and boy is it great. The new jersey is blue and white pin striping. It already ranks just beind the classic orange Dutch jersey for the best jerey in international soccer.

I'm glad to see that Landy Cakes can score a hat trick against a team that does not matter. Did anyone see him during the World Cup, I heard he was playing for the United States.

Ric Flair = Final Four

Ric Flair is the king of bleeding , king of the mic and now the king of motivation. To get the Florida Gators ready for their Regional Final against Oregon, Billy Donovan called in the former 15 time world heavyweight champion Flair to motivate his team. After a bunch of "WOOOs'', "To be that man, you've got to beat the man", and "I'm a limousine-riding, jet-flying, kiss-stealing, wheeling-dealing son of a gun, who's kissed all the girls and made them cry." It all appeared to have worked as the Gators beat Oregon to make it to back to back Final Fours.

I guess Roy Williams should have called in Sting to get his team motivated for their Regional Final against Georgetown, maybe the results would have been different.

Leroy Lita's shoes are better than yours

Reading FC forward Leroy Lita has the market cornered on footwear. If its for the English U-21 team or for Reading, Lita is always out there in this trade mark yellow boots. The last time I checked there is no yellow in the England team shirt or that much in the Reading crest.

NBA think that they are high fashion, but no one is better then Lita. So Agent Zero you need to step your game up.

The Great History of Purple Eagle basketball

Day two of the tournament can mean only one thing Billy Packer and Jim Nantz and during the night session everyone was treated to history lesson.

Here are the highlights of the night session of Day Two:

• I did not know that Niagara had the basketball history of North Carolina and Kansas. During the NU and Kansas game Packer went on a 20 minute rant about the historic Larry Costello, I have no clue who is.
• After being spared the rest of Packer history lesson, the Philly market was taken out to New Mexico State and Texas and that can mean only one thing former Mike and the Mad Dog sports updater Ian Eagle. Is it wrong to want to take a shower after Eagles says that someone is "stroking it."
• If New Mexico State wants to be a big time program they have to learn to wear the same color t-shirt and jersey combo. They went with the always popular maroon jersey and black shirt look and that is why they are now at home.
• Can someone please tell Reggie Theus to bring back the jerry curls.

No tickling bum here

Chelski Football Club has put their foot down on something and its not the special one. The club has decided to not allow their supports to throw celery on to the field. Over the last couple of weeks the club has come under fire for allowing their supporters to throw the vegetable. The throwing of the celery is part of a chant that is performed by the Stamford Bridge faithful:

Celery, Celery,
If she don't come,
I'll tickle her bum,

With a lump of celery.

You have to love English Soccer chants, they are so much better then our chants.

Gus Johnson brings the info on day one

The first two-day of the NCAA Tournament are one of my favorite sports days of the year and this year is no different. During the first day of the dance, announcers try to do their best to make it as interesting as possible.

Here are a couple of things that made the afternoon session fun:

• First could CBS stop with the all of the commercials, its like one every two seconds.
• You know why Bobby Knight lost today; he did not have his trusty O'Reiley Auto Parts logo on his shirt.
• Gus Johnson gave us the best information of the day: Texas A&M forward Joseph Jones has a weak stomach and has to god to the locker room to calm it down. See Dickie V never has that kind of info.
• Following the tournament at work can be hard, but with ESPN.com it’s not that bad. But they do have some 1950's language. During the Louisville game, at one point it said "Edgar Sosa scores on a dunk shot." Do you think that John Wooden was doing the updating?
• Penn's Ibrahim Jaaber's brother is the best baller in Mecca.

and the Night Session:

• Jon Scheyer purposely misses shots for the rebounds and shot attempt stats according to the announcer Bob Wenzel.
• Doug Collins might be a Four time NBA all star but he still will pick his ear on national TV.
• Karl Hobbs (pictured) and Gary Coleman were separated at birth. Hobbs might have the biggest head of anyone in the dance.

Special thanks to Endy in the Outfield for helping me out with the night session. He took time out of his busy Mets spring training schedule to help.

What to take at college

People always talk about students missing the classes for the NCAA Tournament, well if you had a schedule like Ohio State freshman Greg Oden; you would be upset if you missed class. Oden, Thad Matta's prized recruit from Indiana, is currently in the process of taking sociology 101 and Rock and Roll History. Besides those classes he also gets two credits for playing basketball. After this season all of those things that he has learned over the course of the year, will really be use full in NBA.

This is nothing new at The Ohio State University. The star middle linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer took such great classes as Golf 1, Music 140, and AIDS.

I Smell Football

With the sight of Ted Ginn Jr. hurting himself celebrating during the BCS National Championship game not yet out of our head, there is college football on the horizon.

This type of college football might include: the do not touch jersey and drills, but it is still college football.

Around the country there are all types of different question. Will Charlie Weiss turn Jimmy Clausen into the next Ron Powlus? Will Rutgers become a national power or will they turn into the William Paterson football Program again? and How good is USC (pictured) going to be?

• Complete Spring Practice Schedule right here
• ESPN.com complete Spring Coverage here.

Learning Portuguese with Jose

Jose Mourinho drives everyone nuts. But you know what he makes us learn.

I now know that "filho da puta" means Son of a Whore. Mourinho made the comments to referee Mike Riley during Chelski 3-3 draw against Spurs Sunday in the FA Cup.

By the way, the Football Association does not like learning new things and are set to charge Mourinho again. As a person that does not know any other language, I would like to thank you Jose for teaching us Portuguese.

• The Guardian has the story here.

Still Pimpin'

The pimp is still alive. There must be some special powers in Sidney Lowe's red coat, cause they are in the ACC final against North Carolina. The State defeated Virginia Tech. I guess that means the coat is on its way to the cleaners as we speak. I would love to see the dry cleaning bill for Lowe this week.

Spittin' hate, Packer Style

With less then a day to the NCAA selection show, CBS's Billy Packer is getting ready to spit some hate. Three years ago, Packer attacked a small catholic school in Philly when they were having a dream season. Then last year, Packer went after a school in Virginia named after a great American. But the attacking did not stop there, last week he attacked Tyler Hansborough for leaving his nose in the way of Gerald Henderson's elbow. Besides these incidents, Packer also has had other issues, including referring to Allen Iverson as a monkey.

So Drexel, do not say that you have not been warned. If you get in Mr. Packer might be coming after you.

Pimpin' in the ACC

College Basketball coaches like to wear their school colors. From ties to Bruce Weber's orange crush sport jacket. But no ones takes it to another level like current North Carolina State head coach Sidney Lowe (above) . During the first round of the ACC Tournament last night against Duke, Lowe was on the State sidelines sporting his best in Suge Knight (below) wear, a blood red sport coach. While wearing the coat this season, Lowe has beaten North Carolina and Duke.

As a fan of the ACC I would like to thank you for bringing Pimpin to the ACC, cause we all know that Coach K would never bring it.

Red Coat Update: Lowe found a really good cleaners in the Tampa area and was again sporting the coat during the 'Packs quarterfinal against Virginia.
Red Coat Update #2: The coat lives on. Wolfpack beat Virginia and now in the tourney semifinals. At this rate Lowe will need to have the dry cleaners on speed dial.

Stick to Radio, Mike and Mike

With College Basketball taking up much of the television time this weekend, you can not help but checking out the AFL on the ESPN family of networks with Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg. The duo, who do the morning drive time slot on ESPN Radio, might be the worst announcers in the history of TV. I never thought that I would ever say this but please send Mark Jones back.
During the 20 minutes that I could stomach, and that was with drinking, I heard the duo touch on such topics as Golic giving up sweets for Lent, The Green and Gold End zones, Greeny getting ready to retire if he was ever hit into the boards.

The local radio station that carries their radio show in New York gave out Green and Gold T-shirts and gave them to people in the end zones, so one end zone had green the other had gold. During the game Greenberg said that there were more green shirts then gold ones and Golic then said "That is because all of the people wearing the Gold shirts were at the concession stand.''

At one point the two started talking about ski, that lead to Golic saying that he only uses the bunny slopes, to which Greenberg said that Golic would scary all of the bunnies away.

All of their jokes were totally hack. The funny thing was it was not the worst show on TV, that award goes to Andrew Dice Clay's new show.

Endy in the Outfield's New York Mets Preview

New York Mets

By Endy in the Outfield

Offseason Additions - LF Moises Aloud; RP Ambiorix Burgos; SP Chan Ho Park; RP Scott Schoeneweiss; SP Aaron Sele; RHP Jorge Sosa
Offseason Losses - SP Brian Bannister; RP Chad Bradford; OF Cliff Floyd; SP Steve Trachsel; SS Chris Woodward
2007 Preview - The biggest story line heading into the Mets off season was, Who will they add as a front line starter? They answered that question by passing on Barry Zito (signed with the Giants for 7 Years $126 Million) and adding a stable of what Rick Peterson and Omar Minaya call "live arms". They upgraded their LF position by acquiring Moises Alou and not re-signing Cliff Floyd. Now they just have to hope Alou stays somewhat healthy and Pedro is able to return to some former shell of himself after the all star break.
Prediction - 95 Wins 67 Losses. The Mets aren't going to win as many games as they did in 2006, but look for them to remain division champs.Carlos Beltran has said his goal this year is to steal 40 bases and hit.300 as he told the New York Daily News, then look for him to be the NL MVP. If Pedro comes back healthy then the Mets should easily win the division. However if Pedro is not able to return to form and the Mets aren't able to add another front line starter at the trade deadline, the Mets very possibly could be looking up at the Phillies come late September.

Endy in the Outfield's Philadelphia Phillies Preview

Philadelphia Phillies
By Endy in the Outfield

Offseason Additions - RP Antonio Alfonseca; C Rod Barajas; SP Adam Eaton; SP Freddy Garcia; 3B Wes Helms
Offseason Losses - OF Dave Delucci; SP Gavin Floyd; C Mike Lieberthal; RP Arthur Rhodes; SP Randy Wolf
2007 Preview - To quote SS Jimmy Rollins (pictured), "We're the team to beat. I can't put it any other way ... Look at our team and what we're bringing." So what exactly are the Phillies "bringing into the 2007 season besides the talk? First of all they have the most feared hitter in the Major Leagues in reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard (Sorry Bonds). A young 2nd Baseman in Chase Utley whom they've locked up with a 7 year extension worth $85 million. Utley and Rollins also proved to be a powerful infeild with both hitting at least 25 home runs in the same season (Utley hit 32, and Rollins 25). But of course the big question is their pitching, more so their bullpen with aging 40 year old close Tom Gordon.
Prediction - 88 Wins 74 Losses; Jimmy Rollins needs to get things straight, the defending division champs usually are the team to beat, not the runner-up. With the Mets adding more offense and hoping for the same type success from their multiple man rotation as last year, and the Braves hoping to return to their previous 14 year dominance of the NL East, look for the Phillies to once again finish in 2nd despite a better record than last year. Phils fans can be happy about one thing, another huge year from 1B Ryan Howard, and multiple bong jokes about SP Freddy Garcia.

Endy in the Outfield's Atlanta Braves Preview

Atlanta Braves' Preview

By Endy in the Outfield

Offseason Additions - RP Mike Gonzalez; RP Rafael Soriano; RP Tanyon Sturtze; 1B/OF Craig Wilson; SS Chris Woodward
Offseason Losses - RP Danys Baez; 2B Marcus Giles; 1B Adam LaRoche; SP Chris Reitsma; C Todd Pratt
2007 Preview - Was last year a small bump in the road for Atlanta? Or the end of 14 years atop the National League East? With Mike Hampton and Chipper Jones back, the Braves will need them to remain healthy to compete with the Phillies and Mets for the NL East. Atlanta is also hoping for Tim Hudson to return to his previous all star form after sub-par seasons with the Braves. Their offense looks to be better this year as they've added 1B/OF Craig Wilson to provide more power alongside Andruw Jones as he looks to hit more than 40 HR's for his 3rd straight year. The only sure thing with this Braves team this year will be John Smoltz, perhaps the most underrated pitcher of his era.
Prediction - 84 wins 74 losses; The Braves are asking just a bit too much if they want to win another division title. In order for that to happen Mike Hampton, Larry Jones, and Tim Hudson will need to stay healthy and look like themselves in years past. Looking to have all three regain that form is definitely a pipe dream for the Atlanta Braves. While they'll improve from their dismal season in 2006, they still won't be able to get past the Phillies and the Mets.

Endy in the Outfield's Marlins Preview

Florida Marlins Preview

By Endy in the Outfield

Offseason Additions - 3B Aaron Boone; RHP Kevin Gregg; RHP Matt Lindstrom
Offseason Losses - SP Joe Borowski; SP Adam Bostick; 3B Wes Helms; LHP Jason Vargas
2007 Preview - When your biggest off season signing was Aaron freakin' Boone, your know its gonna be a tough season. After over-acheiveing in 2006 with Girardi as their manager, new comer Fredi Gonzalez looks to keep things moving ahead. Like always the Marlins have an abundance of young players in Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs, Miguel Cabrera and Jeremy Hermida (pictured). And the arms are even younger with only 2 pitchers on the active roster (Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom) being born before 1980. Also look for Miguel Carbrera to have an MVP caliber season.
Prediction - 76 Wins 86 losses; At least new manager Fredi Gonazalez won't be helping opposing pitchers this year, however without Girardi look for the Marlins to lose a couple more games than last year. The biggest question of the season will be, will the Marlins trade away Dontrelle Willis? If they do, look for the Marlins to lose 90 games this year.

Endy in the Outfield's Nationals Preview

The Previews will be run from worst to first. So all enjoy. Washington Nationals
By Endy in the Outfield
Offseason Additions - 1B Dmitri Young; SP Jerome Williams; OF Chris Snelling; Manager Manny Acta; 4 Venezuelan Teenagers
Offseason Losses - SP Tony Armas Jr; SP Joey Eischen; SP Ramon Ortiz; OF Alfonso Soriano
2007 Preview - You know a team is in trouble when they still have 4/5ths of their Starting rotation still up in the air, and those vying for a starting rotation spot (RHP Jerome Williams, RHP Beltran Perez, LHP Billy Traber, RHP Jason Bergmann, and LHP Matt Chico, just to name a few) are all under 29 and make less than your average newspaper reporter. With Alfonso Soriano departing to the South Side, the Nats will have to find a way to make up for his 46 HRs 95 RBI and 41 SB. Things are looking so bleak in Washington, even Frank Robinson won't show up for a "Frank Robinson Day" tribute.
Prediciton - Easily put: At least 100 losses this year. Most likely Cordero will be traded at some point throughout the season, and depending on who they get in return could mean another 5 losses easily. The only bright spot will be 22 year old third baseman Ryan Zimmerman who hit .287 with 20 HR and 110 RBI in his first full major league season. However, Zimmerman needs to be more patient at the plate (120 SO in '06) and consistent on the field.

Introducing Endy in the Outfield

Over the course of the upcoming baseball season, Only Time Will Tell, will have a special baseball correspondent. The staff of Only Time Will Tell is pleased to introduce Endy in the Outfield as its correspondent.

Endy is a long time New Yorks Mets fan and has a soft spot in his heart for former Expo Endy Chavez.

Over the next week, Endy in the Outfield will preview all of the teams in the National League East.

He will only preview the East, because he says that is the only league that matters. Some one needs to alert him to the AL East.