The MLB Network

The MLB Network is going to be a goldmine for us there at TBIC. Our favorite sport finally given its very own network. A brand new forum for Harold Reynolds to bless us with his intricate knowledge of the game.

One of the sleek features of the MLB Network is a sports ticker at the bottom of the screen that is constantly updating itself with news, player movement, and manager's opinions of their own teams bullpens.

Yeah, that last part is true.

The other day, the ticker was rattling off some news about players who had been offered minor-league contracts. Standard, mildly interesting stuff. For instance, a guy like Rob Mackowiak (sp?) was offered a minor league contract by the Mets, and the MLB ticker is where I saw that first. Being a big fantasy baseball fan, I know who Rob Mackowiak is and when I saw the news I said "Hah" quietly but out loud, because he kind of sucks but whatever. This wasn't the point of myt post. Back to the ticker.

The ticker broke the "news" that Jim Leyland, "has high hopes for Detroit's bullpen." This was actually on the ticker. There was no follow-up quote, no list of the players who will make up Detroit's bullpen this year, or anything else having to do with Detroit. The boys over at MLBN just wanted their viewers to know how Jim Leyland felt about his own bullpen. Actually, they just wanted to tell us how hopeful he was about said bullpen.

Now, is there a manager in baseball who doesn't have "high hopes" for his bullpen? I doubt it. I just don't think this little tidbit was newsworthy, call me crazy. However, if the MLBN continues down this path, that is, giving us manager's opinions on their own teams and players, here are some of the quotes that I'd like to see:

Charlie Manuel thinks Phillies will be good.

Joe Torre hopes Dodgers will win some games this year.

Joe Girardi assumes Yankees will play the Blue Jays at some point this year.

Terry Francona thinks Dustin Pedroia is a pussy.

Bobby Cox thinks Terry Francona is a pussy.

Mike Scoscia doesn't give a fuck what happens to the Angels this year.

Lou Piniella on Cubs' chances this year, "I've got a better chance of getting my dick caught in a toaster oven than us winning a playoff game this year."

Ozzie Guillen.......

Ron Washington on the Rangers, "Being the manager of the Texas Rangers is unequivocally the worst job in the world."

Ron Gardehire thinks Twins will suck this year.