It's glad to be back in the blogosphere, here's something for ya'll to chew on

Well, the baseball season is only three weeks old but we do have a few surprises.  Here's the list of surprises, both negative and positive:

The Detrot Tigers are playing like an A-Ball team.  I know that they got some wins over the weekend against Cleveland, but this team needs to put together some big weeks to get back into the race.  They will be getting Curtis Granderson back soon, but they still have glaring holes in the bullpen with the absence of Fernando Rodney and Closer-In-Training Joel Zumaya.  I think they'll turn it around before Memorial day, which is the first true measuring stick for the season.

Also in the AL Central, the Kansas City Royals have been a pleasant surprise this season so far.  The team is at 9-10 right now after being swept by the A's(more on them later), but I like their starting rotation with Zack Grienke, Brian Bannister, and Gil Meche.  I know the Mets could use Bannister now.  The questions that I have all have to do with their lineup.  This team will only go as far as Alex Gordon and Billy Butler will take it, which I think will be an improved team, but still about a year or 2 away from the playoffs.

The Oakland A's are leading the AL West and I can honestly say that I didn't see this one coming.  I was expecting Joe Blanton and/or Rich Harden to be traded as the team rebuilded again.  Once Harden and Eric Chavez get back from the DL, look for the A's to continue their run at least until Memorial Day.  By then, John Lackey for the Angels and Erik Bedard for the Mariners will be healthy.

Who would have thought that the Florida Marlins would be leading the NL East?  A team of no-names that gets paid less than A-Rod and Manny are leading the division.  This definitely won't last, I'm still going with the Mets over the Phillies and Braves to win the division.

Speaking of headline grabbers, how about the NL Central.  The Cardinals, who many picked to finish in 5th place, were in 1st place until yesterday and now sit a 1/2 game behind the Cubs.  I hear that the "What the Fuk?" shirts are popping at Wrigley, we'll see how the lovable losers fair when they play someone other than the Pirates.  Miguel Tejada got 2 years older overnight, what a shock.  Eric Gagne is pitching horribly for the Brewers and Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun can't hit right now, but that should change soon.  And look at the job that Dusty Baker is doing in Cincinnati.  Sure, I'm not a Reds fan but it's always good to see the Reds play well.  Ken Griffey will always have a place in the hearts of many people my age and Johnny Cueto?  What a stud!

The NL West hasn't really been too crazy, except for the fact that the Baby 'Backs are doing what they couldn't do last season.  They are crushing the ball behind Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds.  With the staff that they possess, they have to be the favorites to win the division.

Remember though, it's only been 3 weeks so we'll see how it works out.

The Chicago Cubs signed Cliff Floyd to a 1 year-$3 Million contract on Wednesday.  This signing makes absolutely no sense from a pure baseball standpoint.  Chicago had a full outfield before signing Floyd with Matt Murton(.297 13 HR 62 RBI in 144 games) in Left, Alfonso Soriano(.277 46 HR 95 RBI 41 SB for Washington) in Center, and Jacque Jones(.285 27 HR 81 RBI) in Right.  Floyd will platoon with Murton in Left and will be the same defensive risk as he was in New York(he's got ivy and a brick wall to deal with now) and now he will be affecting the maturation process of Murton.  Personally, I hope this signing bites the Cubs in the butt because I'm a big Matt Murton fan.  The kid has what it takes to be a solid corner outfielder in the league, but the Cubs wanted yet another bat over the better all-around player in Murton. 

Why is it that everything you are tired and want to go to sleep, there's a good game on?  Such was the case for me yesterday.  I got back from class at 10 pm and turned on ESPN2 while I was winding down.  What was on you may ask.....The first OT in the Texas-Oklahoma State game.  They were going back and forth during the final 2 minutes of the OT and the battle of the top scorers in the Big 12 took place when Mario Boggan hit a 3 with a little over 3 seconds left in triple OT for an OSU 105-103 victory.  Kevin Durant is for real(sorry Longhorns fans, but he'll be in the NBA next season) but UT needs another scorer. 

the NHL Minute
The Blues won 6-2 at Anaheim last night with a familiar face in goal.  Curtis Sanford started in goal and looked great.  The Blues are 9-2-2 in their last 13 games and are making a playoff push.  They also traded for Yan Stasney yesterday.  He is the nephew of Petr Stasney.  Sidney Crosby scored 2 goals yesterday against the Islanders...There's no new news on the Penguins move from Pittsburgh, but my money is on Kansas City.  It would be awesome to be able to drive 3 1/2 hours to see Malkin and Crosby play

Sammy Who?
The Texas Rangers offered a minor league contract with a spring training invite to "Slammin" Sammy Sosa and Sosa is contemplating it.  GM John Daniels stated that Sosa deserves a "second chance".  Funny he would use those words because Sammy was offered the same deal last off-season by the Washington Nationals, wasn't that his second chance in baseball?  If you knew what was best for you Sammy, you would officially retire and try to leave the game with some dignity.

Odds and Ends
Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain was given permission to transfer from the school yesterday.  How ironic is it that he would do so 2 days after his former high school coach, Gus Maltzan, resigned for the offensive coordinator job at Tulsa.  Mustain is the second of the "Springdale Four" to leave the school.  Before their bowl game, WR Damian Williams transferred to USC because he said that the offense wasn't what he thought it would be.  I wouldn't be surprised if Mustain follows him to USC, that would be a terrific fit for him.  He would be replacing John David Booty and will have the best WR corp in the country.  Other places that would be ideal would be Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tulsa, and Tennessee...

Mike Shula has interviewed for the head coaching position with the Miami Dolphins?  Has Wayne gone NUTS?  Why, in the name of all that is holy, would he contemplate hiring someone who was fired from Alabama after having only 1 good season?  The only reason he is getting a look is because of his last name and it would be a travesty to all Dolphin fans if he is hired to be their head coach....

Benny Parsons died yesterday at the age of 65.  BP made people love NASCAR and he will surely be missed by most people who now love NASCAR, I know I'll miss hearing him at Daytona in a couple of weeks...

Carlos Zambrano is arbitration-eligible, I hope the Cubs have a vault big enough to pay the biggest pitching ego in the majors!

College Basketball Game of the Day
#4 North Carolina @ #16 Clemson, 6 PM ESPN.  Carolina going into Littlejohn after losing in Blacksburg on Saturday and Clemson coming off of their first loss.  I'm going with Carolina by 5.  Lawson to Hansborough, that's going to be said a lot tonight