Today's links were found, lost, and refound while watching ravenous Jayhawks pluck the moist eyes from Tiger cubs …
• Jim Salisbury:
Phils closer Brad Lidge said many of the players' questions were about the uncertainty of dietary supplements."We have this tiny list of approved substances that includes things like Gatorade," Lidge said. "Guys are like, 'Can I take some protein? Can I eat a protein bar?' You send it to get checked, and it takes two months to get back. It's a difficult time. Everyone is so scared -- players and the union -- of doing anything wrong."
Not to be a Pollyanna or anything, but what would happen if baseball players drank less beer and ate more fruits and vegetables and protein shakes? Would they still need to be so scared?
• Same subject, sort of … If you're not careful, this might blow your mind.
• What is David Murphy's role with the Rangers this season? After a solid 2008? Jeff Wilson:
The Rangers believe he has more than a good chance to be a starter. He is one, as far as manager Ron Washington, general manager Jon Daniels and team president Nolan Ryan are concerned.
That's real sweet, but I'm not sure how the math works, exactly. We know that Josh Hamilton is going to play unless he's not healthy, which leaves two outfield slots. Nelson Cruz destroyed pitchers for six months last year, and if he doesn't get a real shot then someone should be fired. Which leaves one outfield slot … and Murphy, Marlon Byrd, Andruw Jones, and perhaps Frank Catalanotto to fight over it. Murphy might have the best case for playing time -- in fact, he does -- but it seems to me that the Rangers should be trying to trade at least one of those guys. Along with at least one of their young catchers. You know, for a club that seems to always be short a pitcher (or three), the Rangers sure do have a lot of hitters.
• Juan Cruz is a Royal, and Rany Jazayerli is really, really happy about it. Mostly because Cruz is a power pitcher with an absurdly low price tag. And boy, can the Royals use the strikeouts (as Joe Posnanski writes, last year they set a franchise record … and still were just seventh in the league).
So yeah, Rany should be happy … but especially if the Royals are willing to trade Cruz in July if they're not doing anything.
• I've never quite been able to figure out how the Royals spent $250 million on their ballpark without, you know, actually getting a new ballpark. Well, here's how.
(H/T: Mom)
• Sometimes they sneeze.
• Before getting Brian Roberts' name on a four-year contract, the Orioles engaged in something called "statistical analysis" and looked at "historical trends." Oddly, they profess to consider players at all positions rather than just second basemen. Hey, that might work, too.
• Matt Sisson looks at how the economy might impact various teams.
• I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but these sure are pretty.
Rob Neyer
