-Dexter Sports
6:19 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

I have finally completed the Andy MacPhail trade profile. It was a very interesting experience, and I think I will try and do it again. Throughout the project I found out a couple things about MacPhail that I found interesting.

Download or view the the Andy MacPhail Trade Profile.

• He is actually a really interesting character. I always thought he was just a boring guy.
  

• He really isn't a user of the big trade, but when he does, It usually works. He credits that to asking his father's opinion on trades. He says only once a trade didn't work in his Minnesota days. That trade his father said was a bad one for the twins. Go figure. (Could be a product of his small market nature.)
  

• As he has aged, McPhail has become a better talent evaluator. With Minnesota, a lot of prospects didn't work out. But as he moved to the Cubs and Orioles, it seemed his staffs had a better grasp on player development.
  

-Dexter Sports
7:13 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

For Twins' prospects and teammates Chris Cates and Loek Van Mil it is simple. Both have the drive to be in the Majors some day. And both are willing to reach new heights in their game to perfect it. For Loek Van Mil though, that height is 22 inches higher that his teammate.

The Beloit Snappers of the HiA Midwest League and their fans have been fortunate to watch two guys who have the biggest height difference in all of sports. At 5'2 and a half, shortstop Chris Cates is shadowed by 7'1" pitcher Loek Van Mil. Though their height difference is what many national outlets are talking about, both of these prospects are genuine. Lets take a look.

For Chris Cates, his 5'3" stature has never been an issue. A native of Florida, Cates became the shortest player in division one baseball when he signed with Louisville in 2004. As a freshman Cates became an everyday player in the middle infield. From his freshman year onward, Cates became known for his fantastic glove. As a senior he only committed seven errors and was part of a record setting double play tandem. For scouts, his size was a major factor in not considering him. For the Twins though, his character overrode any height issues. Cates started all but one game in his college career. Cates does all the little things right on the field (no pun intended). He also has proven that he can hold his own at the dish. In 52 games, Cates has 17 RBIs.

Loek Van Mil is one of the Twins' top 50 prospects. A native of the Netherlands, Van Mil was scouted by the Twins and Mariners, but ultimately went with the Twins. At 7'1" he is the tallest professional baseball player, but his height doesn't get to him. He sports a fastball, slider and changeup and all have the makings of plus pitches. When the Twins first signed him, his fastball reached the high 80s but now it is in the mid 90s. Van Mil isn't the only tall and lanky starter for Beloit. Of the 14 pitchers on the roster, 8 of them are 6'5" or taller. None are shorter than 6'1".

As Beloit pitching coach Gary Lucas would put it, “If we get rained out of too many games here, I think we should consider taking on the opposition in basketball,” he said. “It looks like a basketball team on paper.”

How interesting is that. Two unique players. One Goal. This story shows that this great game is more than height. Its about ability and desire and both of these guys have it. Lastly it's about having fun out on the diamond. That is the initial and most important principle of the game.


Here is an ESPN First Take Interview. Enjoy.

-Dexter Sports

Wednesday night's action is going to be interesting for a bunch of teams. It should tell a lot for a lot of fantasy options as well. Lets dig in.

• Roy Oswalt should get his season started right this evening as his Astros take on Kyle Kendrick and the Philadelphia Phillies. Oswalt has said numerous times this season he hasn't had great stuff and has had to rely on the fastball. Though the Phillies aren't the easiest team to face in a streak, their lineup though is predominately right handed. If Oswalt can contain Howard and Utley, he should be all right.

• Matt Chico vs. John Maine: This is my favorite pitching match up of the night. I love what Chico brings to the mound, and though John Maine is a future ace, his ability to shut down and offense is still in question. Tonight will be the real test against a nationals offense that ranks 25th in runs scored.
  

• Two extremely touted offenses start a series tonight in Baltimore. The Orioles and White Sox have both shown that they can score this season. The Match Up I am interested in though in though is Jose Contreras vs. Adam Loewen. Both have faced control issues to start the year. I like Contreras to start a hot streak tonight and get in a groove, as he is known to do from time to time. THATS A FANTASY ALERT FOLKS!
  

• The Two AL Central Heavy Weights battle it out in Cleveland tonight. C.C. Sabathia will take the mound for the Indians. He is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA. Cleveland Indians fans don't worry, the Tigers send out Armando Galaragga for his first start of the year. He was acquired from the Rangers in the off-season. I like Sabathia to tease the Tigers Lineup and look great, even though he is 13-8 against the tigers all time with a 4.30 ERA.
  

• Jesse Litch will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Manager John Gibbons has been high on this kid since spring training, and he might be the best number 5 starter available in fantasy leagues. Litch is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA. He will face a struggling Rangers offense tonight.
  

• Livan Hernandez looks to be the first pitcher to four wins this season, as his twins come off being swept in a mini series against the tigers this week. The Twins offense will face Jamie Shields and a Rays team that is offensively powered so far this season by B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena. I think it is safe to say that Livan has been a pretty good filler for Johan Santana.
  

-Dexter Sports
4:21 PM

Lets take a look at the most intriguing match ups of Monday's Evening Action.

• Randy Johnson(ARI) Vs. Jonathan Sanchez(SFG) 10:05 PM AT&T Park: What I like about this match up is the fact that The Big Unit will be able to ease back into pitching, by facing one of if not the weakest offensive lineups in the National League. Johnson is coming off his second back surgery in as many years, and If healthy, could give the Diamondbacks a formidable 1-2-3 Punch in the rotation. This start could also judge if the Giants want to keep Sanchez in the rotation, or move him down to AAA Fresno for a bit of experience and seasoning.
  

• Detroit Tigers Offense Vs. Nick Blackburn(MIN) 7:05 ET Comerica Park: Ok, so now comes the real test and I think the real tigers offense. Though the Tigers offense has not faced Nick Blackburn much, if at all, I think this is the best opportunity to see this offense finally flourish. We know that Jim Leyland threw down the hammer on these guys, and facing a pitcher that does have good stuff, but nothing over powering is just what this offense needs. Plus, they cant be shutout again can they?

• Hiroki Kuroda(LAD) vs. Zach Duke(PIT) 10:05 ET Dodger Stadium: What is so special about this matchup is how similar these pitchers numbers are. Both come in with a 2.13 ERA. Zach Duke has 7 strikeouts on the year and Kuroda has 8. What is also interesting is that both teams have played about the same type of ball this season and their records show it. Plus, it is always fun to see hitters face Kuroda for the first time. He has some sick and nasty stuff.

• The 7-5 Blue Jays vs. The 7-5 Orioles 7:05 ET Oriole Park: I understand that it is early and that there isn't a playoff implication here yet, but something has to give. Both teams carry the same record going into this game. Add on the fact that while Baltimore is 5-1 at Oriole Park, the Blue Jays are 5-2 on the road. Weird enough for you yet? Good. Last year's match up between the two, 10-8 in favor of Toronto. So say there were playoff implication some where down the line, this could be really interesting. Dustin McGowan will take the mound for the Jays. Matt Albers will go for the Orioles.

• Vladimir Guerrero(LAA) vs. Rangers Pitching 8:05 ET Ballpark In Arlington: Guerrero hasn't started slow, but with a .288 average and 2 homers, look for him to walk in Texas and make himself the lone ranger of the town. Guerrero is a lifetime .406 hitter against the Rangers with 21 Homers and 58 Rbis. Look for Vladimir to bust open tonight.
  

-Dexter Sports

What really can be learned from the opener in baseball this year is simple. If a team can play in a dome to open the season in late march, Major League baseball should take advantage of it. All of the games delayed on opening day could have been avoided. Major League baseball didn't look into the fact that every visiting club of that group played in a closed stadium. Oops. Anyways, here is what caught my eye on opening day.

• No wonder Carlos Gomez made the twins roster let alone won the starting center fielding job. Watching him yesterday was like watching a young Coco Crisp. He can cover a lot of ground in center and his arm is better than advertised. The Twins might have felt he was a better option in the long run, compared to Jacoby Ellsbury and Melky Cabrera.

• Eric Gagne might not be the answer in Milwaukee. I know it is the first game of the year, but his pitches didn't seem to have that electric stuff needed as a closer. Trust me, Gagne has it, at least he did with the Dodgers in 2003, when his campaign was possibly the best ever for a closer.

• I don't buy into the Roy Oswalt is on the decline talk. Oswalt pitched well in San Diego last night, and that was including the fact that 85 % of his pitches were fastballs. His Opposing pitcher, Jake Peavy came close to taking his pal Oswalt deep with runners on base. That, was indeed impressive.

• The Rays offense, let alone their pitching will keep them in a lot of games in 08. Even without Rocco Baldelli, this team is fast and a hassle for any pitcher on the mound. After watching their opener in Baltimore, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished ahead of the Jays and Yankees.

• If Ben Sheets Stays healthy,(no pun intended) he will give that Brewer bullpen a lot of rest in games he pitches. I can smell a Cy Young in the waiting. I can also smell a playoff run and possible world series if they can keep that bullpen in check.
  

• Nate McLouth is going to be a key part of the Pirates future. He is a great candidate for 20 homers and 20 stolen bases yet again this season. He plays the outfield well and I believe is the reason the pirates are not rushing prospect Andrew McCutchen. It is also the reason the Bucs wouldn't mind trading Jason Bay's salary.

Well, thats all for now folks. Stay tuned for more and as promised the rule 5 all-star team.