THE PREZIDENTIAL ADDRESS
From the desk of the Prez

Garciaparra close; Lackey still a month away; Bond-less Giants hurting; C.C. who?; Chipper hurt again; Shootout at the D’Back corral; and more…

GIMPY GARCIAPARRA
Nomar Garciaparra is close to returning after going through his normal pregame routine of hitting and fielding for the fourth time Friday. Nomar, who is expected to play for the Dodgers' triple-A Las Vegas team in Sacramento tonight, wanted to be back yesterday, according to his manager Joe Torre. But in all honesty, baseball investors (nor the Dodgers) should expect much from the ex-batting champ. He hasn't been able to stay healthy since leaving Boston, which seemingly was ions ago. Torre loves his veteran, but there is too much youth, and potential, on the current LA roster to give Garciaparra a pass any longer. The veteran will have to suck it up and accept a part time position with the club.

K-ROD CAN
Francisco Rodriguez declared himself fit enough to reclaim his closer role Friday afternoon. Then, the right-hander apparently proved it, completing a short bullpen workout during batting practice, after which pitching coach Mike Butcher told the LA Times that Rodriguez "looked good." Rodriguez also said he was sound before Monday night's game against Cleveland, and that didn't go too well -- he blew a save, giving up three runs in the ninth inning, and was pulled after 13 pitches because of ankle pain. Scouting bullpens has become more important for investors than ever before. Finding quality relievers in the league has become more difficult than buying aces off the free agent market. K-Rod is a veteran, who knows when he can and can't contribute, but investing in the Angels is not fiscally responsible unless the team can get the backside of their pitching staff healthy. 

YOU LACKEY
Staying with the Angels; John Lackey, who went 4-0 with a 0.58 earned-run average in four starts against the Mariners in 2007, is on the disabled list because of a triceps strain and not expected back until May. But the Angels are encouraged by Lackey's progress, especially after the ace completed his first bullpen workout since being injured, throwing 30 pitches Thursday, all fastballs. The LA Times reports that Lackey not only looked good, "He looked great," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He really threw the ball well, nice and easy." Lackey, who went 19-9 with an American League-low 3.01 ERA last season, is scheduled to throw about 45 pitches off a mound Sunday, mixing in some breaking balls. The Angels are a good team, in an average division. When they get healthy, completely healthy (if that's possible) they will win a division that is currently being ruled by the "Bad News Bears" (Oakland).

BEAR BONDS
The San Francisco Giants have announced that starting left-fielder Dave Roberts will have surgery on his left knee today. The veteran is suffering from a torn meniscus and softening of the joint cartilage behind the kneecap.  Roberts, who moved from center to left field this year after the Giants elected not to re-sign Barry Bonds and replaced him with center-fielder Aaron Rowand, isn't the player he once was, and his start to the 2008 campaign proved such. His 2-17 start with no stolen bases, one caught stealing and four strikeouts is an overall representation of the entire Giants roster. With Roberts out -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy will go to his minor league system and his youth. Relative unknowns Fred Lewis, Rajai Davis, Dan Ortmeier, Eugenio Velez and Clay Timpner should all see time in left field while Roberts is out. What the Giants won't see is any of my hard earned money.

C.C. CY YUCK
Raise your hand if you have gone broke backing C.C. Sabathia this month?  C.C. has always been somewhat of a slow starter, but there was nothing slow about Sabathia's outing Friday night at Progressive Field. He was quickly hit around the ball park by the supposedly light hitting A's club. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner was lit for nine runs and a dozen hits in less than four innings. "I stink right now. I'm not making good enough pitches to get guys out," Sabathia told the Cleveland media after the awful outing.  It was Sabathia's shortest stint since going 2 innings at home against the Chicago Cubs on June 21, 2006. The nine runs allowed tied his career worst, the third time that's happened. The left-hander is worth watching and a strong play against until he can find his command.

D’TRAIN WRECK
Tigers starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis was lifted from Friday's scheduled appearance at the Chicago White Sox after slipping and falling while delivering a pitch in the first inning. The 'D-Train' threw to only two batters before departing. He had convinced manager Jim Leyland and a trainer that he was fine to continue initially, but he threw a wild pitch to the next batter and was removed in favor of reliever Aquilino Lopez. This my friends, Willis moving from the NL to the AL, is a train wreck just waiting to happen.

FRIGGING WITH FUKU
Sweet Lou Piniella has the best team he's ever had, save some of the Yankee clubs he managed last century, and he is screwing with his success already. After sweeping the Pirates the Chicago skipper move his Japanese import "Fuku-dome" up to the No. 2 hole behind Alfonso Soriano and playing him in center. "I like [Fukudome] in both places," Piniella said. "I didn't like two left-handed hitters (Fukudome and Ward) back-to-back in the five and six holes. Fukudome is fine in the two-hole, too, believe me." Fukudome reiterated, through an interpreter, that he didn't care where he bats. "I wasn't expecting anything, hitting second, but my approach won't change," he said. "It doesn't matter." Fukudome went 0-for-4 and failed to reach base for the first time. Piniella said he will give Fukudome the day off Saturday against left-hander Cole Hamels." Piniella is screwing with success --- and it bothers the hell out of me.

SOX SIT SWISHER
White Sox outfielder Nick Swisher was held out of Friday's game against the Tigers due to a hip pointer. Swisher replaced Jim Thome as the designated hitter midway through the game and is questionable for this weekends action.

CHURPING CHIPPER
Breaking News (sarcasm): Chipper Jones came up gimpy on his right quadriceps muscle running the bases in the ninth inning. It was an injury he said he first felt running the bases in Colorado. He wanted to get treatment and sleep on it before deciding about today's game. If Atlanta can get 130 games out of their future Hall of Fame third baseman, they should consider themselves fortunate.

DAVIS OK
Pitcher Doug Davis was discharged from Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix around on Friday morning. The D'backs southpaw underwent surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid mass from his neck. Davis was good in his first two starts for Arizona this April, and is there any doubt that the young, vibrant lineup is the best in the NL West -- They look over-the-top good.

WONDERFUL WEBB
Brandon Webb looked great last night against the dangerous Roks (or what we thought to be a dangerous lineup). With the hitting support he got from his Diamondbacks teammates Friday night, it was easy to see why. Arizona ripped three more home runs, giving it a share of the major-league lead with 20. The right-hander won for the second consecutive time over the Rockies, "Every time I wanted to make pitches, they were there,” said Webb, notes the Arizona Republic. The National League West Division leaders, at 8-2 and is 7-0 against division rivals, are tearing up their opponents.

REYNOLDS, WRAPPING SUCCESS
Sticking with Arizona and their youth, Mark Reynolds is yet another Diamondback who is off to a scorching start. Before his 0-4 performance on April 9th Reynolds registered five consecutive multi-hit games with 5 HR and 12 of his 14 RBI. He went 1-3 against Colorado last night with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Reynolds never lacked power; it was patience the youngster needed to acquire. The Arizona third baseman hit 17 bombs in 366 at bats last year and is on pace to challenge 30 HRs on the year.

ZIMM WATCH
The Nats stink right now, and much of the blame can be directed to the meat of their lineup and Ryan Zimmerman, who is hitless in his last 16-at-bats.  Zimm’s batting average has dropped from .290 to .191 in that stretch and the Nationals have now lost 8 straight. Slow starts are typical of the Nationals’ star third baseman seeing that he has not hit above .300 in any of the opening 3 months for the last two seasons. Don't sour on Zimmerman just yet. He had an awful start to 2007 as well, hitting .236 with just 1 HR and 8 RBI. You may however sour on the Nationals as a team... they have far too many holes to ever put a single cent of my money on.

AWFUL OZZIE
The Fish are hot, and with young and talented outfielder Jeremy Hermida back from an early stint on the disabled list, the Marlins trumped Roy Oswalt and the Astros 10-6 on Friday night. Hermida went 2-4 with 2 HR and 3 RBI, driving his average up to .357 since he returned from his injury. Hermida struck out in 25% of his at bats last season (105 SO in 428 AB) while drawing only 47 walks. In his first three games this year, he has 4 strikeouts and only 1 BB in 14 at bats. This kind of improvement, from not only Hermida but the rest of the young team, makes Florida once again a team to watch early on this summer.

EDWIN WHO?
What in the Sam South Florida has come over Edwin Jackson? The young and powerful right-hander has found his MLB Way. He has been very impressive through his two starts this season. He's given up just one earned run in 14 innings of work, with a WHIP of .929 (the most impressive number). Jackson has always had talent but like with so many pitchers his control is an issue. Last season he walked 88 batters in 161 innings. Statistics like that are largely responsible for Jackson’s 1.678 career WHIP. He has walked 6 batters this season. It is a small sample size but that does not show any improvement. Jackson has matured, no doubt about it, and has become a target "watch" for the Prez early on.

MILLER TO MAN-UP
Andrew Miller is 0-1 with a 12.91 in his two starts. Opposing batters are hitting .444. -- Hmmm. Adding extra pop to a fastball means very little, unless you have command of such. Miller's fastball usually clocks in the mid-90s has dipped to the upper 80s in his previous start when he faced the Pittsburgh Pirates. Afterward, manager Fredi Gonzalez told Miller to turn up the heat. The 23-year-old is a project, with the potential to strike out 10 hitters a game, and his lack of velocity is by my scouts, his attempt to be more efficient. Pull some cash out of your pocket today and invest a crumpet on the over in today's Miller vs. Brandon Backe affair in the bandbox named Minute Maid. 

TIP OF THE DAY
Role with the hint I suggested in the Andrew Miller quip today. The over in Houston today -- is the next best thing to a Hershey bar… it’s oh so sweet.

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