No sooner do I publicly avow that I do not want to talk about Elijah Dukes ever again than Wily Mo Pena gets a significant obliquie strain than will keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks. This is too bad for Wily Mo as he was about to be given a full-time job from the get-go. Dreams of 30+ HRs just went out the window.
Now Elijah Dukes will get a chance to prove the 10 HRs he hit last season are more indicative of his baseball skills than the .190 AVG he showed in 190 ABs. He did have a .318 OBP and that is why I lean towards the 10 HRs side.
If only my visceral reaction to his personal behavior translated into a fantasy morals clause.
*
The Angels announced that their ace, John Lackey, will miss the 1st month of the season with a strained triceps. This means Ervin Santana is sure to get a last chance to prove 2007 was a fluke.
The rotation is tenatively Jered Weaver, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Dustin Moseley. Sorry the Angels can no longer be considered locks for the AL West title. That rotation doesn't put the fear of anything into me.
I'll be watching to see if a Nick Adenhart emerges for the rotation and which middle reliever sees an increased role with both Santana and Moseley out of the competiton there. Is Rich Thompson going to put it together?