FanHouse Paul Bako

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro made it a point not to bring back the exact same lineup in 2009 after winning the World Series in 2008. He succeeded in that goal by replacing the departed Pat Burrell with Raul Ibanez in left field. The strategy worked as the Phillies won their division and made it all the way to the World Series, eventually losing to the New York Yankees.

During this offseason, expect the mantra to be very similar to last winter. The one position in the lineup that likely will roll over is third base. The team declined their $5.5 million option on Pedro Feliz and will try and find an upgrade in the free-agent pool. If they fail to do so, they can always bring Feliz back to the team.

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2008 may have been the dream season to end all dream seasons for Brad Lidge, but 2009 is rapidly developing into a nightmare of epic proportions. Lidge blew two more saves, he's got six overall, in Los Angeles over the weekend, which brought his ERA to an unsightly 7.27 for the season.

It will stay put for a while because Lidge was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee on Tuesday.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Chicago Cubs.

A magical regular season that yielded the most victories for the Cubs franchise since 1935 sent them to the postseason for the fourth time in a 11-season span. Unfortunately, 2008 ended the same way 1998, 2003 and 2007 did -- in disappointment. The Cubs head into 2009 hoping to wipe the slate clean and get over any fake curses they are allegedly saddled with.

Left on Base is MLB FanHouse's link dump.

You wanna see a future Hall of Famer at the age of 15? He could start in the bigs right now! I kid. Hyperbole aside, though, this 15 year-old player named Bryce Harper is already being touted as the first overall draft pick in 2011. He's a catcher who can run, bats left-handed, and already hits with major league power. Here's a highlight film of this young George Herman Ruth reincarnation.

Earlier today PostmanE told you about Justin Morneau's run in with a brick wall Miguel Olivo on Friday night. As a result of the collision, the reigning AL MVP ended up with a bruised lung and a mouth full of blood for his troubles.

Olivo? I don't even think he noticed Morneau hit him, which given how large of a lumberjack Justin is, that's saying something.

Anyway, Morneau will remain in the hospital tonight so that they can run a few more tests on him before letting him go.

Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau is scheduled to undergo another round of X-rays and blood tests as a precaution Sunday before being released from the hospital following treatment for a bruised right lung.

A team spokesman said Morneau is expected to fly home with the team after its weekend series against Florida. He was hurt Friday in a collision with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo.

It's possible that Morneau will rejoin the Twins lineup next week, but nobody's really all that sure. It isn't very often that a baseball player suffers a bruised lung, so it's not like the Twins have a precedent to work with here.

There is a bit of irony here, however, as it was Morneau who ran over Paul Bako on opening night giving Bako a concussion. Maybe this was just karma's way of setting things straight, be it for the Bako incident, or the way the Twins play in general.

Previously at The FanHouse:
Justin Morneau Might Consider Sliding
Justin Morneau Brings The Pain
Are The Twins Dirty?

Every morning I sit down at my computer and start perusing these interwebs for things to write about here at the Fanhouse. Everything ranging from big media outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated, to the blogs. I also try to limit my time spent watching YouTube videos of guys being hit in the junk, but that's just because I'm a professional.

Today I came across a brilliant post from Royals Review, which is a Royals blog. Shocking I know. Anyway, I began reading the post and it started out like a very interesting, serious piece.

Of Baseball in 2007 no profounder truth can be uttered than to admit that the players don't care about the Game (with a capital G) anymore. Across the internets the widespread belief is that the players are selfless, dedicated to their teams, passionately involved with the fans and disinterested in money. Ceaselessly, today's Game is compared favorably to the Game of our fathers, as everyone from managers to journalists to hot dog vendors celebrate our progression out of 1960s scoring levels, one-run strategies and hurlers throwing 130 pitches every start. Everywhere, a blind devotion to the new, as evidenced by the LA media's warm embrace of Paul DePodesta, now entering his third year with the Dodgers.

This has become both a cliché and lie. I come to you as Marx did in Capital, as a lonely voice speaking the truth against a rising tide of lies: baseball players are self-interested pursuers of money, regardless of team loyalty.

It was at this point where the post went from interesting to brilliant.

Which brings us to Benedict Bako and his new home.

Royals-Orioles just got a whole lot more interesting.

As you will recall, in December of 2005 Bako joined the Royals. Only 34, the expectation throughout the Midwest was that Bako would finish his career as a Royal, probably playing through age 45.

Thousands of fans envisioned a bright summer day sometime during the 2010s when they would stand up and cheer as Bako blasted his 15th, or even 20th career home run, in a Royal uniform. They wanted to witness his 5th career stolen base, his 150th career RBI, his 10th career triple, in a Royal uniform. Yes, its silly, but big round numerical landmarks are important to us. Especially when its one of our own, a true Royal like Bako.

I wish I could just copy and paste the entire post and put it here, it's that good. I suggest you head over to the Royals Review and read the entire thing.

Never has Paul Bako garnered such attention.


Previously at the Fanhouse:
Justin Morneau Brings The Pain

As I'm sure many of you did, I watched a lot of baseball yesterday. Tons. Hours even. Where as there were a lot of cool moments during the day, and some craptacular ones, there is one incident that stands out.

It occured in the Twins/Orioles game. Justin Morneau was trying to score from second on a single. Nick Markakis' throw from right field beat the AL MVP by about 20 feet, but Morneau did everything he could to score, including delivering an atomic elbow to the face of Orioles catcher Paul Bako.

The game had to be delayed for a few minutes as Bako tried to figure out where the hell he was, and went to get his bleeding chin bandaged up.

"You never want to see anybody get hurt," Morneau said.

That's what Morneau said after the game, but I swear I heard him yelling at Bako as he came down the third base line.

"Whatchoo gonna do when the 24 inch pythons run wild on you!? AAARRRRRGH!!"

As for whether that's true or not, the still bleeding Bako wouldn't admit to the elbow being a cheap shot afterwards.

"It's nothing," Bako said. "I didn't see a replay. You just catch the ball and try to make the tag. I have no idea what transpired."

You gotta feel bad for Bako who wasn't even supposed to start the game, but had to after Ramon Hernandez strained his left oblique. As for the source of Morneau's rage, it's either an intense desire to win, or just frustration from not getting that new deal he wanted. Personally I think it has to be a direct relation to the Todd Bertuzzi shirt Morneau wears under his jersey.

Whatever it is, catchers of the AL should be scared. Cuz Morneau's a comin', and he's angry.

Previously at the Fanhouse:

Justin Morneau, Twins Quit Contract Talks