Baseball is back, not a moment too soon. Through four days, here’s a few tidbits that have made an impression on me during the first week of the season.

It’s still only a game. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I was shocked to hear the news of Nick Adenhart’s death. It’s always a stark reminder of life’s fragility when an athlete passes. But for it to be a 22-year-old makes it even more tragic. Our prayers go out to Nick Adenhart’s family, friends, loved ones and fans. For God’s sake, please drive safe.

Just as advertised. It’s not September yet, so we can expect the Mets to play like a competent team. But you have to like what you’ve seen from the duo of JJ Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. I hate the cliche, but having to face those two really does shorten the game to seven innings. I still have some concerns about their rotation, but the Mets’ bullpen is in great hands.

Royals and Marlins! I hopped on the Royals’ bandwagon early in the offseason, but two of baseball’s smallest markets are looking like contenders. The Marlins swept the Natty Ices, while the Royals took two of three from the White Sox. Both teams have great pitching, so they won’t be going away anytime soon.

Hosts: Sonny and Ryan. In this episode, Sonny and I discussed the American League Central, one of baseball’s deepest divisions. After blowing a 3-1 lead in the ALCS, can the Cleveland Indians ride their two Cy Young Award candidates back into the postseason? Or will the new-look Tigers, bolstered by the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera, return to the playoffs after a one-year absence? Also, how will the Twins fare after losing the two faces of their franchise? All of this and more on the Sportable Spot!

You can subscribe to the Sportable Spot via RSS.

[display_podcast]

Royals outfielder Joey Gathright has never started a full season in the Majors.  His inconsistencies at the plate have raised questions about his offensive abilities.  What shouldn’t be questioned is his athleticism.  While most of us are out hanging with friends playing poker or watching a movie, Gathright is in parking lots jumping cars.  Yes, you read that right.  This is freakish….

Of course you have to wonder whether or not this would ever come in handy in a baseball game.  Well, as we found out in a spring training game, Gathright has no problem jumping over a human being either.

Props to one of our readers, Asita, for finding these gems.  While I continue to fail at jumping even the smallest of cement posts outside of the local Target, Gathright is probably jumping my 1994 4Runner. 

Royals May Be Singing the Blues In ‘08. The cellar dwelling Kansas City Royals have revamped and returned for another season in 2008. For a team that seems to be in constant rebuilding mode, the Royals feel like their youth may actually be making progress and could lead them on a climb in the division standings. Highly touted third baseman Alex Gordon has a full season under his belt and the signing of outfielder Jose Guillen marks the standard one big contract that the Royals offer every off season.

Bats. At a glance, this lineup looks starving for a recognizable name. Mark Grudzielanek may be the most recognizable triple word score in scrabble name in the lineup, though his importance to the team lies in his veteran leadership rather than his ability to rake. It’s time to sympathize with Grudzielanek, a guy who has bounced around and has played for the likes of the Expos and the Dodgers in their darker days and is now expected to lead a Royals lineup that, sans Jose Guillen, has only a few years more experience collectively in the Majors than Grudzielanek has racked up. Guillen will be stationed out in right field, taking over the veteran role that guys like Michael Tucker and Reggie Sanders used to fill. When Guillen isn’t calling Mike Scioscia a piece of garbage that should go to hell, he’s a pretty damn good player. And even though there are reports that Guillen “allegedly” used performance enhancing drugs in the past, a fresh start in Kansas City where he wont have to fight a coach or players for playing time will undoubtedly be good for the underrated slugger. Despite having the American League’s worst fielding percentage for an outfielder, Guillen belted 23 bombs last year and drove in 99 runs. Read the rest of this entry »

John Thomson has picked up entirely too much popularity here on Sportable.? For some reason the entire Sportable staff refuses to let the story of John Thomson signing with the Blue Jays over the Mets die.? If you never heard the story, the link is here and the article is certainly a Sportable gem.? Thomson, who was with the Blue Jays, was released on Wednesday and signed with the Kansas City Royals.

Granted, this isn’t news.? Nobody outside of Kansas City should care about this story and, since nobody in Kansas City even cares about the Royals anyways, this whole run around is pretty irrelevant.? Thomson isn’t a good pitcher.? He likes to believe that he is because he’s been around for a few years, pitched on a few good teams, and had moderate success as a number four or five starter.? That’s all about to change.

I’m unclear as to whether he’s actually trying to commit career suicide or if he actually believes he can make a serious impact with the Royals.? Here’s a guy who turned down signing with the Mets, who by the way are in first place right now, in favor of playing for Toronto in the hellspawned AL East.? While he didn’t even throw a pitch for the Jays, it’s pretty apparent how much of a downgrade Toronto was from the Mets at this point in the year.? Toronto realized how much of a douchebag Thomson is and sent him out of town.? Enter Kansas City.? The Royals, a perennial lock for the cellar every year in the AL Central and a place where careers go to die, came calling for Thomson and he answered.? Huge mistake.

Im not exactly a professional baseball player and, well, I don’t handle much involving player contracts either.? My issue stems from the fact that he elected to go to the Royals.? This wasn’t a trade situation.? He wants to be a Kansas City Royal.? Now you see why we think this guy is one of the biggest dumbasses in America.? I won’t believe that, when he was released, every other team in the league didn’t show interest.? The idea that Kansas City was his only option is pretty far fetched considering some of the injury problems plaguing staffs in baseball right now.? Whatever happens to him, I just hope he’s satisfied knowing that Greg Zaun isn’t behind the dish.? Nothing to take away from John Buck, who is having a nice year, but he’s no Greg Zaun.? Nobody is like Greg Zaun.

After signing a $55 million death wish to his career, Gil Meche has decided to throw a little weight around the Kansas City Royals’ locker room. Meche decided to do some negotating with his new teammate Joe Nelson. Why would the godlike Meche negotate with someone far inferior to him? Because Nelson was wearing Meche’s #55.

Meche has had to buy Nelson a couple of suits, a set of golf clubs and “all kinds of other junk,” as Meche put it.

Usually, these kinds of things are negotiated with money. But Gil Meche doesn’t see it like that. Why should he hand over his money? This is money he earned by amassing that 4.48 ERA. He’s going to do what he wants, we’re going to have to learn to deal with it. It’s obvious Joe Nelson isn’t worthy to wear the number. He had no choice but to give it up. He should have done it for free, seeing as how Meche is there to resurrect a horrible franchise.

When I read what Meche had to pawn off to kit his Double Cinco back, I had no choice but to make a movie connection. Doesn’t Meche’s explanation sound a bit like Lloyd’s from Dumb and Dumber? As a way of earning $25 bucks, Lloyd sold “a few baseball cards, a sack of marbles, [and] Petey”. Maybe that’s the other junk that Meche was describing.

What’s funny about this is Nelson wanting golf clubs. Nelson is in need of surgery because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. This bastard is no condition to get in a late nine holes near the Royals’ Spring Training facility. After some bartering, Meche has his number. When his ERA explodes to 6 in April, at least we won’t be mistaking him for Jeff Nelson.