Ball One:  Pitchers and catchers report in 17 days.  Hot damn!

Strike One:  It was announced that Jon Miller of Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and voice of the San Francisco Giants would be inducted into Cooperstown today.  I hear a lot of people on sports talk radio and these interblags rail on Miller.  Those in the Bay area seem to have a different take.  Most people I know there seem to like and admire Miller.  I count myself in the latter category as well.  I think he's an outstanding baseball voice with a wealth of stories.  I think it's a well-deserved selection to the Hall.

Strike Two:  Good god, Dave Dombrowski, PUT DOWN THE CRACKPIPE!  I know things are bad in Detroit, but there is no reason to sign Johnny Damon.  You obstensibly got rid of a first-class outfielder to the Yankees for the purposes of trimming payroll.  Now you're going to overpay someone who the Yankees didn't want?  Save the money.  Build from within or sign a kid who can run in the wide open spaces of Comerica Park's centerfield.  A 37 year old Damon is not your answer.

Strike Three:  Joe Mauer just signed a gizillion dollar, 10 year contract with his hometown Twins.  I never thought Mauer would leave Minnesota.  Born and raised there, he's a homegrown boy done good.  In staying put, he's made himself a legend.  I'm happy for the kid.  He deserves it.

Last night was the first night in weeks that I did not watch a baseball game. I feel so empty inside. Thank god for the Game Notes.

"Chien-Ming Wang has walked at least three batters in six straight starts." I've soured on the fantasy value of Wang. His BBI to K ratio isn't what I would like from a fantasy player. Last night he had 4 K and 4 BB. Overall, his ratio is 1.48 to 1. Couple this with an over 4.5 ERA and you can see where is fantasy value is limited.

"Jay Bruce was 0-for-4 for the second straight game. His average dropped to .432 after his first 10 games." So Bruce is human after all. This is the problem when you hype rookies. Bruce owners might want to look at selling while his value is still perceived as being high.

"Though Orioles SS Freddie Bynum brought a .212 average and only two RBI in 66 at-bats into the game, Dave Trembley said Bynum is the still starter -- though Alex Cintron is in the mix. Bynum, though, needs to shorten his swing and improve his discipline at the plate. "If you look at his history, his walks and strikeouts, there is too big of a disparity there," Trembley said." Bynum's leash is very short in Baltimore. Cintron's promotion from the minors to the Orioles club should be a strong indicator that Trembley's patience is wearing thin. Cintron doesn't have any fantasy value yet, but he might be one to watch.

"The Cardinals played without OF Rick Ankiel, who has an infected right knee." I haven't mentioned Ankiel's absence from the line-up because I thought it would be very short-lived. This is the third game that Ankiel has missed with the infection. There are reports that the infection is showing 'significant improvement.' Ankiel should be back for the weekend.

"OF/1B Chris Carter was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game and Brandon Moss was recalled." Carter goes 2 for 3 and you send him down to the minors for Moss. How's that for gratitude? Actually, this was done for Carter's development. He's clearly a better player than Moss. He was sent down to get some more at bats in the minors. He will be back with the Red Sox sooner than later.

"Chipper Jones got his first stolen base of the season in the eighth." Not just a .400/400 HR hitter. Grats to Jones on joining the 400 club. He is having a season to remember.

"Atlanta LF Greg Norton was a late scratch with a twisted left knee. He is day to day. Josh Anderson was the fill-in starter." I looked a bit deeper into this one hoping to find a 'I tripped over the dog' story in it. Instead, I found trouble for Norton. His replacement, rookie Anderson, had a good night going 1 for 3 with a triple and a walk. For a guy who is a replacement himself, Norton may find himself with reduced playing time or even out of a job soon.

"DH Travis Hafner, on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain, won't pick up a bat until the weekend, giving him a full week to rest and strengthen the shoulder." Hafner is no where near his projected stats for the year which has caused plenty of fantasy owners to bail on him. He's gone from a 99% own and start percentage to 61% and 8%. The hope with this trip to DL land is that Hafner will heal the shoulder that has been causing his troubles.

"Alexei Ramirez is hitting .372 with six RBI in his past 11 games." These numbers are a bit deceiving as he went 1 for 5 last night.

"Jon Rauch had retired 19 consecutive batters until Ryan's double in the ninth." I'm still a Rauch believer. This was only his third blown save.

Streaks! "Johnny Damon extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a third-inning single...Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 11 games...David DeJesus' triple in the fifth extended his hitting streak to nine games..Kansas City's Mark Teahen hit a home run for the third consecutive game."

Here's hoping you all have a great fantasy weekend...unless you're playing my team.