Chase Utley, Phillies

My first foray into the world of fantasy baseball came on my 11th birthday when my parents purchased "Strat-o-Matic" for me. For those too young to recall the wonders of Strat-o-Matic," it was a series of cards produced which, allegedly, allowed for the player to engage in managing a baseball team through the season based on the previous season's statistics. Those Strato-o-Matic cards were renewed every year and now gain dust in my mother's attic; their fantasy power long gone.

I still play fantasy baseball and fashion myself a darned good manager. None of my players have demanded trades just yet but if I had to pay the real salary for my team, I'd be broken faster than a twig. Yup, money makes the baseball game go 'round.

In the National League, the Phillies and Mets battle not only on the field but in the front office, as well. It's not only Chase Utley vs. David Bell but Ruben Amaro, Jr. vs. Omar Minaya spending to keep their respective teams atop the Eastern Division.  The Phillies offseason showcase signing was Roy Hallyday, the former Toronto Blue Jay Cy Young Winner yet Amaro allowed late 2009 pick-up and post season hero Cliff Lee go via a trade to Seattle. The Mets offseason billboard shows the addition of two solid outfielders, Jason Bay and Gary Mathews, Jr. but no additions to a pitching staff notably lacking an established starter. Johan Santana, a free agent pick up in 2008, has notched twenty-nine wins in his two years in the Mets orange and blue and comes as close to an ace as the current Mets’ configuration possesses.

What will 2010 bring in the Phillies/Mets rivalry? A stronger Phillies’ pitching staff but a stronger offensive and defensive Mets’ outfield; it should prove interesting to see if good pitching continues to defeat good hitting.

The NL East is more than the Phillies/Mets turnpike rivalry; however and it shouldn’t be a surprise if one of the 2009 also-ran squads makes a run at the 2010 division title. Crazy woman, you say? Well, I’m a hopeless Pirates fan so perhaps I am a tad infected with baseball fever but let’s take a brief look at the remainder of the division’s offseason wrangling.

The Braves quietly improved themselves by signing bullpen closer Billy Wagner and power hitting veterans Troy Glaus and Eric Hinsk-- not to mention Yankees post season star Melky Cabrera. Add solid starting pitching anchored by Derek Lowe and Tim Hudson and the Braves’ next superstar in outfielder Nate McLouth and we just might see the Braves playing for the division title once again.

Veterans Ivan Rodriguez, Matt Capps and Jason Marquis were signed by the Nationals and along with returning vet Adam Dunn anchor the team’s young talents in Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham. Don’t look for the Nats to compete for the division title but, it says here, they’ll cause heartbreak in the heat of the pennant race.

The Florida Marlins made no appreciable offseason moves and will continue to  be anchored by seasoned vets Wes Helms and Dan Uggla. Given the talent in the Marlins’ farm system, however, the Fish can never be underestimated.

More on the NL, fantasies and my ongoing search for the Pirates 1960 yearbook my father left me in coming columns.

Rambling on...  Melody