A Little Love

Valentine’s Day. To be honest, I never really was into it that much. Call me an old fart, but I always looked at it as nothing more than a chance to blow money. I looked at this this way: Why would I need to flourish that special someone with gifts on one day when I should actually do so throughout the year? It’s not that I’m cheap either.

Anyway, I thought that I would sort of break away from that. Sort of, I said. I thought there are certain individuals that need a bit of love today. I’m providing that “special” gift that could make into a good 2011 season.

My first gift is to Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore. My gift to Sizemore is a healthy 2011. As I pointed out last week, Sizemore was once a top notch outfielder in the league. Injuries have befallen the Tribe’s man in center. He’s such a valuable cog to that whole organization.

My next gift also concerns the one of health. It’s for Chipper Jones. During 2010, rumblings emerged that Jones was going to retire. He squashed those rumors. But I wasn’t quite so sure when he suffered a torn ACL in early August. In fact, he’s rehabbing the knee and wants to come back in 2011. As odd as it will be not having Bobby Cox in the dugout, it would be just as odd seeing a Braves team without Chipper on the roster.

This git isn’t a gift at all. In fact, I’m taking something. Not for myself, mind you. Well, it could be a gift for all Tampa Bay Rays fans. I’m instructing the equipment manager to take all of the gloves from Manny Ramirez. You honestly did not sign Manny for his glove. He got him for his bat. If I were to give something it would be for Manny’s bat to be revived.

There a some groups of fans I wish to deliver a gift to today.

For those fans of the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates. I present you with the gift of patience. I do this because in checking what talent you have either in your farm systems or the youth movement on your respective rosters, patience will provide all of you with good and winning seasons in the not-too-distant future. The Royals could provide a nice shakeup within the AL Central within the next year or two. Maybe even pull a stunner or two this season. Same for the Pirates. They have the young bats. Just need the arms.

I suppose the same is in the works for the Washington Nationals. But their hopes seem to rest on the shoulders (or arm) of Stephen Strasburg. He’s recovering from Tommy John surgery and has already begun tossing lightly. Oh, there’s another the Nats are resting their future on. I’ll get to him in a minute.

Even as a Reds fan, I would love to present Albert Pujols to the Cards. It would make all this created drama surrounding the game’s best player go away. Yes, I am tired of hearing about it. OK. This will be the last time I mention it, too. If I do, it will be that he’s signed. If not, well…

I considered giving something to the Philadelphia Phillies. I suppose I could give them a right fielder, but with that starting staff, they may only need eight in the field including the pitcher. What do you give the person that seems to have everything? A gift card?

Same could be said for the Boston Red Sox, too. But they do need something. Jonathan Papelbon in the right frame of mind. With rumors circulating within the last week of the possibility of dealing their closer, the Sawx need this guy’s mind in the right place. Granted, he did kind of bring some of it on himself when he told WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford that he saw what Rafael Soriano brought in on the free agent market and he (Papelbon) wants “to be the No. 1 guy coming out, no question”. Oh those nasty trade rumors. Doesn’t help that he’s in the final year of his deal either. That can play with a guy’s mind, too.

To A.J. Burnett, I give you a good season. 2010 wasn’t good to you. Rumors swirled that was the case due to off-field “issues”. 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA is not what was expected last season. I honestly believe a turnaround from Burnett is in the works.

Kirk Gibson. What I stated about the Phillies is almost the opposite of what I would give to Gibson, but I have to give him a bullpen. A .288 BAA, 16-32 record, 5.74 ERA and 1.615 WHIP will either take you out of close games or cough up leads. The offense doesn’t look bad with Chris Young, Justin Upton, Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson. Yes, Gibby needs a pen.

What could I give Fred Wilpon? A billion bucks? That’s what the trustee in the Bernie Madoff case is seeking from Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz and Sterling Equities. If I had a billion dollars, do you honestly think I would shell it out for that? Or better yet, I could restore their reputations. That’s the claim from the Wilpon camp. This whole suit has dented that rep. Once the suit was unsealed, the gates were opened. Wait. I’m not a genie here.

Giants closer Brain Wilson, I give you a lifetime supply of beard products.

For Bryce Harper, I give you a clean face. You may be the #1 prospect according to some, but you’re not the Ultimate Warrior. Here’s the Ultimate Warrior.

For the new man in charge of the Dodgers, Don Mattingly. I wish I could give you all the baseball knowledge to run your club. As long as he’s been around the game, he’s had his team bat out of order and there was the gaffe of two mound visits (which was later deemed not two visits). OK. Got a recall (of sorts) on one. Hopefully managing in the Arizona Fall League will quell all that stuff.

Most of all, I want to give all baseball fans the beginning of the 2011 season. It’s finally in view. Pitchers and catchers are already reporting. Maybe now, we can have some sanity in the sports world.