Church Members Upset Over Devil Rays Name Change

Starting in 2008, thousands of baseball fans will be without a favorite team. All across America, members of the Church of Satan are denouncing their allegiance to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the team decided to change their moniker to the "Tampa Bay Rays" effective next baseball season.

"Granted, I could never make the trip to see them in person," said a Church of Satan member from Salem, Ore. "But they were definitely my favorite team."

Some Church of Satan members are accusing the Devil Rays' ownership of kowtowing to the Religious Right.

"It's all those Bible-thumpers' fault," said a church member from Rome, NY. "You don't see us making a big deal over the San Diego Padres, do you?"

Although the true reason behind the name change remains unclear, the head of the Church of Satan, Magnus Peter H. Gilmore, believes the team made the move to spite the church.

"We were in the midst of negotiations for the souls of some of their players when the organization low-balled us and we had no choice but to walk out."

According to Gilmore, deals had been made to ensure the success of many "Devil" teams, such as the New Jersey Devils, the Duke Blue Devils, and the Arizona Sun Devils. Past deals have included the souls of Martin Brodeur, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, and Barry Bonds.

"Each team has had to sell us a few souls in order to win. Tampa Bay hadn't done that yet," said Gilmore. "We saw a few players we liked in Scott Kazmir, B.J. Upton, and Carl Crawford."

Gilmore claims when the Devil Rays counter-offered with Rocco Baldelli, Elijah Dukes, and Don Zimmer, he knew there was no chance for a deal.

"It is no secret having the Church of Satan on your side has its advantages. Look at the history. We've supported winners," said Gilmore. "But the Tampa Bay baseball team did not take the negotiations seriously and now they are on their own. I feel bad for our members who are baseball fans, but we don't take too kindly to being insulted."

Because of the failed negotiations, some former Devil Rays fans are already making plans to change their allegiances.

"I guess I'll root for the Yankees next year," said a Church of Satan member from Hell, MI. "It's no secret the Big Man Downstairs is quite fond of George Steinbrenner."

(Satire.)

Remembering Sammy Khalifa

(This post has nothing to do with Tampa Bay baseball, but it was something I wrote on another website and wanted to save for myself.)

Twenty years ago today Sammy Khalifa played his last major league game.

Two and a half years later, his father, Rashad Khalifa, was killed, allegedly by Muslim extremists with ties to Al-Qaeda.

As a part-time shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1985 to 1987, Khalifa hit .219 and had an unremarkable career .579 OPS. But it wasn't in the batter's box where Khalifa made his mark: in a sport long in tradition and pioneers, Sammy Khalifa was the first Arab-American and Muslim-American in the major leagues.

Surprisingly, there is little celebrating Sammy Khalifa as a sports pioneer. Although there have been prominent Arab-American athletes in other sports (Doug Flutie, Rony Seiklay, etc.), Sammy Khalifa stands as the one and only major league baseball player with roots in the Middle East.

Fortunately, the career of the first Arab-American to play in the majors was long over before the Khalifa name would again make headlines. In 1989, a group of religious scholars in Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa (religious edict) against both the father of Sammy Khalifa and author Salman Rushdie. (Rushdie also had a previous edict pronounced against him four days earlier by the Supreme Ruler of Iran.) Whereas Rushdie escaped assasination by living under police custody, Rashad Khalifa was not so lucky. According to Wikipedia, "he (Khalifa) was stabbed 29 times and his body drenched in xylol but not set alight" because of his establishment of religious sect he called the "Submitters". Again according to Wikipedia, the Submitters' doctrine stemmed from Khalifa's own interpretations of the Qur'an, including mathematical research into the religious text. Some still consider the Submitters to be a cult with no base in traditional Islam.

Currently, Sammy Khalifa lives in the Tucson area, no longer affliated with baseball.

Looking back, it is difficult to imagine the saga of the Khalifas playing out today. What if Sammy Khalifa had a longer, more distinguished major league career? How would his career have been effected by September 11th, 2001? What if, along with Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, we recently inducted the first Arab-American ballplayer into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Could Sammy Khalifa have been a bridge to ease the current tension between the West and the Islamic World?

As further developments arise in the death of former NFL player-turned-soldier Pat Tillman, it might be time to take a moment and remember Sammy Khalifa, the first Arab-American baseball player and the first athlete with ties to the war on terror.

Making you Love The Tampa Bay Devil Rays

This is a post I wrote for Jay Busbee's Sports Gone South website. That site is now closed, so I figured I would put the post here.

With Jay on a weeklong pilgrimage, I have once again been summoned to tug your heartstrings, be still your heart, and get you all doey-eyed for a bunch of men running around playing a modernized game of rounders.  This time however, instead of trying to win you over to the dark side of those hated New York Mets, I’m going to stay a bit more regional. Today, I am going to make you love the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Admittedly, in the first ten years of the team’s history there hasn’t been much to love about the Devil Rays.  Horrible ownership, atrocious personnel, embarrassing off-field incidents, and home games in a dungeonesque former hockey arena quickly made the Devil Rays the biggest American League joke this side of Kansas City.  Two recent events however, have ushered in an era of optimism in the organization.  Although some players have been known to still “act the fool”, new ownership direction in 2005 and the fleecing of the New York Mets to acquire ace Scott Kazmir have given hope to the fine denizens of the Tampa Bay area.

So without further ado, I present to you five good reasons why you should fall madly in love with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

They are not the Yankees or the Red Sox

Due to Tampa Bay’s proximity to the Atlantic Coast, the Devil Rays have been mired in the American League East since their inception.  Unfortunately, this division has been the stomping ground of two of the most evil empires in sports: the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.  These two teams, with their astronomical payrolls and ESPN exposure, are the Goliaths of the baseball landscape.  So who better to topple these juggernauts than the newest, most up-start ballclub in the division? Hey, if the Osceola Rangers can topple the Yankee invaders in 1862 , why can’t the Devil Rays 145 years later?

Carl Crawford

Faster than a speeding bullet, more range than a locomotive, and able to leap and rob opponents of home runs, Carl Crawford is the face of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  At only 25 years old, Crawford is already the Devil Rays franchise leader in hits, runs, singles, and sacrifices.  He has also led the American League in triples each of the last three years and stolen bases three out of the last four 

years.  Didn’t know that?  You would if you bled Devil Rays green.

The Arms Surplus

James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, David Price, and the aforementioned Scott Kazmir. These names and several others represent the future of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching rotation.  And the future looks bright. With any luck, the Devil Rays’ young guns could be the next Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, Mercker, and Millwood.  Or at least the next Willis, Johnson, Olson, Sanchez, and Nolasco.

Beautiful fanbase

Although more famous as an elephant graveyard for retirees nationwide, the Tampa Bay area is also well-known its cornucopia of gorgeous women.  Think Miami, without the pretentiousness.  From the Original Hooters in Clearwater to the University of South Florida to Tampa’s bevy of adult entertainment establishments, proverbial “eye-candy” are everywhere.  Even at Tropicana Field.  You never know, you might even spot area resident and Florida State Cowgirl Jenn Sterger.

Warmer than the former Leningrad

Even though they are known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Tampa Bay professional baseball club actually plays its games across the bay in St. Petersburg.  According to World Travels.com, the average temperature in St. Pete, Florida is at least 40 degrees warmer than the average temperature in St. Pete, Russia .  So when deciding between the Devil Rays and the St. Petersburg Spartak of the Russian Basketball League, remember, sunshine, beaches, and bikini-clad women beat parkas, blizzards, and frostbite any day of the week.  And usually twice on Sundays.

Random Player Pages

I've come across a few early Internet fansites dedicated to miscellaneous baseball players. Check these out, they are borderline obsessive.

Todd Zeile

Albert Belle

Have a good weekend. I'll be around.

256.25 schillings will get you a ticket to the Hall of Fame

In introducing his recent ESPN.com article on the staying power of baseball's most senior pitchers, writer Sean McAdams makes the assumption Boston Red Sox right-hander Curt Shilling is a future baseball Hall of Famer. But is that true? I am not so sure.

Curt Schilling has been a good, if not great, pitcher since 2001. He has won 20 games or more three times, pitched over 200 innings four times, and averaged over a strikeout an inning. Now, although I am far from a baseball statistician, those are Hall of Fame caliber numbers. Add to the fact Schilling started this run in his mid-30s and his accomplishments become all the more impressive.

However, when judging a player's Hall of Fame potential it is imperative to examine his entire body of work. Schilling has pitched in the major leagues since 1988. During that time, he has won over 10 games only 10 times, the same amount of times as Dwight Gooden and three times fewer than David Wells. Gooden's Hall of Fame chances are pretty much nil and Wells will not be considered a serious Hall of Fame candidate anywhere outside of the Bronx. For his entire body of work, these are Curt Schilling's contemparies.

Of the other elderly hurlers McAdam discusses (Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Jamie Moyer, Tom Glavine and Randy Johnson), Clemens, Maddux, and Johnson are sure-fire future inductees. Glavine will join them, but I believe he needs to get his 300th to solidify his candidacy. That should happen in 2007. Moyer, although he has pitched effectively with a high-school fastball since the days of Willie Mays, has never had Hall of Fame numbers.

This brings us back to Schilling. According to baseball-reference.com, Schilling's average season is 14-9 with a 3.44 ERA in 220 innings. Again using Gooden as a reference, Dr. K's average season was 15-9 with a 3.51 ERA in 226 innings. Pretty similar.

Not to campaign for Dwight Gooden, but I don't believe Curt Schilling will be able to put together a resume fit for the Baseball Hall of Fame when he retires. If he ever retires.

(P.S. 256.25 schillings = $14.50 admission x 1.29 dollars to euros x 13.7 schillings to euros)

Wanted: Mascot Handler (Apply Within)

Are you interested in an exciting career in entertainment? Do you love sports? Can you restrain a seven foot tall pseudo-animal from mauling fans? Then the Cleveland Indians have the job for you.

According to the official job site of Major League Baseball, the Indians are seeking two mascot handlers to work with Slider, the Indians' mascot. These lucky individuals will "generate excitement and entertainment throughout the Ballpark and surrounding areas." Sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, as with many job listings, the job of mascot handler carries with it many unlisted responsibilities.

Ever wonder who feeds the mascot? Who watches the mascot while the team is on the road? Who is the first person looked at when the mascot inexplicably attacks an innocent fan? The mascot handler, of course.

The life of a mascot handler is not quite as glorious as the Cleveland Indians describe. Do you think mascots were born cheering for the home team? And who do you think cleans up when a mascot forgets his potty training?

A mascot handler must train a mascot to behave appropriately, no matter what team or element they represent. The job is not just one of brute enforcement, but one of subtleness. Prior to even being considered, mascot handlers must be well-versed in Pavlovian training techniques. Years of training goes into ensuring mascots don't root for the wrong team. All that training can be all for not in moments with one bad incident. Of course, the pressure facing mascot handlers is much greater now more than ever due to several embarrassing incidents between mascots and fans or coaches.

Being a mascot handler is hard work. While the team is on the road, your responsibilities are to care and maintain the mascot. Few people realize the energy needed to groom, feed, and keep a mascot entertained. The mascot handler is also responsible for the mascot's fitness program and may often have to run stairs with the mascot in the off-season.

Sadly, mascot handlers get little credit in the success of a mascot. Like other types of managers in the entertainment industry, mascot handlers are often ignored when a mascot achieves a high level of success. Many mascots, such as The Famous Chicken, have left their team-affiliated handlers and ventured solo, becoming more general "sports mascots". Others, such as former Montreal Expos mascot Youppi, have negotiated their own contracts with other organizations and moved on without bringing their former handlers. Of course, considering the absent-mindedness of many mascots, we may never see a mascot handler nominated into the Mascot Hall of Fame, although without a handler's loving guidance, every mascots could have ended up in the Orphanage of Cast-Off Mascots.

Finally, before considering a career as a mascot handler, keep in mind an emotional attachment may occur between handler and mascot. Like any pet, caring for a mascot becomes a labor of love. Mascot handlers must continuously remind themselves that being a mascot handler is a profession, and the mascot does not belong to the handler, but to the people. And if the mascot passes away or is killed on their watch, they must be strong and move on. Although some mascots are still cheered in death as they were in life, a mascot handler must be prepared to train the next generation of Phillie Phanatics, Sliders, or Mr. Mets.

Still interested? Apply to be Slider's mascot handler here.

Why Hate The Fish?

Ok, I know it's not baseball season, nor is it close to baseball season. But something is bugging me. ESPN has started previewing the upcoming baseball season in a multi-part series called Hot Stove Heaters in an attempt to get fans prepared for baseball. Normally this is not a bad thing. Should be a good thing, right? Well, this year ESPN has decided the Florida Marlins are public enemy number one. I don't know why, but three articles in the last three days have bashed the Marlins in some way, shape, or form. I have never seen anything wrong with rooting for the underdog Fish, especially when they beat the Yankees in 2003. So ESPN, why all the Marlins hate?

In their opening salvo against the Marlins franchise, ESPN writer Tim Kurkjian called Dolphins Stadium "the worst ballpark in the major leagues". Kurkjian's logic is that because of their lack of attendance, the Marlins stadium is worse than any other. First, let me be up front, I have been to Dolphins Stadium. I went to the Marlins' home opener Opening Day 2004, right after they won the World Series. So although I have never seen the ballpark empty, I was there. But to insult the facility because of lack of attendance is a faulty premise. Keep in mind for many years the Cleveland Indians could barely fill a quarter of Municipal Stadium, their much older, colder, more empty, caverous "mistake by the lake".

Granted the Marlins could use a new stadium, preferably with a retractable roof, but in my opinion, Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bays Devil Rays, is the worst stadium in baseball. True, its cozier dimensions give the appearance of higher attendance because the few fans there are not as spread out, but baseball is not meant to be played indoors. Period. Watching a game at "The Trop" is like watching a game in a musty basement. It doesn't feel right. Add the fact that Tropicana Field was once home to the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, and you can see why baseball doesn't fit there. Contrary to Mr. Kurkjian's ideas, lack of attendance doesn't make something horrible, the facility itself makes it horrible.

After Mr. Kurkjian's claim against the Marlins, writer Phil Rogers discusses the city of Portland's attempt to have the Marlins relocate to the Pacific Northwest. Insulting the stadium in which they play is one thing, but to promote the moving of the franchise because of the lack of attendence is a slap in the face to the many fans of the Marlins, of whom I know do exist. Once the Florida legislature finally approves of a workable deal and the Marlins can get their new stadium, they will be fine. Hopefully the new stadium will be in a location that will be convenient for both the citizens of Miami and the purchasing power of Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The franchise just needs a legislative hand, not a moving truck.

The third attack against the Marlins was minor and perhaps true, but considering ESPN's previous comments, enough is enough. In Paul Lukas's newest Uni Watch article, he rates the Marlins' uniforms a two out of five. Ok, that they may be, and maybe I am getting too defensive about a team that I only occasionally root for, but it's the principle. Stop hatin' on the Marlins.

Now I am not saying everyone should jump on the Florida Marlins' bandwagon, but no one discusses moving the Royals or the Pirates. Or even dare suggests combining the two aforementioned pitiful franchises and having them play in Oklahoma City or any other third site. So ESPN, how about showing the Marlins a little respect? They do have the best young pitching staff south of Detroit. With Cabrera, Willis, and the rest of the young talent in South Florida, I see playoffs by 2010.

Is Cooperstown Ready for an Attack of the Killer Bees?

Question: Would you trade 22 innings and a 1.23 ERA in 15 relief appearances for 449 HRs, 1529 RBIs, 202 SBs, and a .297 career BA in 2150 games?

Sorry Red Sox fans, but those are the final totals from the Larry Andersen for Jeff Bagwell/ Red Sox-Astros trade. I know, I know, Bagwell was a third baseman in the minors and you had Wade Boggs. And you couldn’t move Bagwell to first because you had top prospects Carlos Quintana and the Immortal Sam Horn (total stats with Boston: 35 HRs and 203 RBIs in 541 games).

So did the Astros acquire a future Hall of Famer for a reliever who once wondered if Chinese people threw hot dogs at weddings? I think they did. Not to be too much of a stat geek, but if you concede 25% of Bagwell’s power numbers to the juiced ball/ expansion pitching/ BALCO era, he still ends up with over 300 HRs to go with an average of over 100 RBIs a season for 15 years. Put his career numbers with a near-Triple Crown season in 1994 and an MVP trophy and he is modern version of Hall of Famer Tony Perez. Bagwell’s durability in his prime and his continuous service to one team should also help his chances and set him apart from contemporaries with nearly identical stats. Maybe Red Sox fans can convince Bagwell to wear a Pawtucket Red Sox hat on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Future Baseball Hall of Fame Breakdown

(active pre-1995 and not yet on ballot only):

----------------------------------------------------------------

In (1st Ballot)

Jeff Bagwell

Frank Thomas

Roger Clemens

Greg Maddux

Tom Glavine

Mike Piazza

Randy Johnson

Rickey Henderson

Ivan Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez

Craig Biggio

Trevor Hoffman

Pedro Martinez

Manny Ramirez

On the Fence (more than one ballot if at all)

Carlos Delgado

Gary Sheffield

Chipper Jones

Jeff Kent

Barry Larkin

Jim Thome

John Franco

Juan Gonzalez

Mike Mussina

Fred McGriff

Out (Veterans Committee if at all)

Roberto Alomar

Julio Franco

Mark Grace

John Smoltz

Edgar Martinez

Bernie Williams

Moises Alou

Luis Gonzalez

Larry Walker

Andres Galarraga

A Night at the Winter Meetings

With the baseball hot stove heating up to an almost unbearable temperature, I decided to take a trip. Not just any trip, a trip to the 2006 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Time to see what these Winter Meetings are all about. And maybe get an inside scoop. You never know, maybe, just maybe, I will be the first place the world finds out where the Great Gil Meche will play next year.

Because I have to pay the bills, the trip didn't start until 4pm Eastern Time. Unfortunately, a trip to Lake Buena Vista also meant missing a key city rec league basketball playoff game. Oh well. We were 0-7 going into tonight. How much of a Cinderella chance did we have? But I digress. Off to the Winter Meetings. I am going to Disney World!

For the sake of speed and coherence, what follows is a chronological diary of sorts. I know The Sports Guy has pretty much cornered the market on running diaries, but anything less would become a blathering of philosophical prose. And who needs that?

4:02 Left for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. It's about 60 miles to Lake Buena Vista, I've got a half tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it'll soon be dark, and I'm wearing sunglasses.

5:20 Arrived at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Wow. Not only did I beat traffic by averaging about 85 on the highway, but this may just be one of the nicest resorts I have ever seen. Hopefully I'll see someone as rich as Lou Whitaker pull up in a stretch limo.

5:30 Entered the resort like I owned the place. No Lou Whitaker, but there were a few limos outside by the valets. Began strolling around. Found the Professional Baseball Job Fair, where hundreds, if not thousands, of aspiring individuals converge attempting to land jobs in professional baseball. You know what they say, "those who can't play, work". I wonder if this is how Theo Epstein or Mark DePodesta started?

6:00 Continued my mindless wandering through the exquisite halls of the Swan Resort. Found the Phillies reception room empty. Probably either closed for the evening or closed due to disbelief that the Phillies would pay recent additions Wes Helms and Adam Eaton more than they paid Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.

6:15 Moseyed across the concrete boardwalk from the Swan Resort to the Dolphin Resort. Walked by gigantic outdoor fountains of, you guessed it, swans and dolphins. Entered the Dolphin Resort, and in moments was in a spacious lobby/lounge with a huge Christmas tree in the middle and a pianist off to the side playing Christmas carols and all of today's great Baroque hits.

6:20 Began to wander around the lobby/lounge. Unfortunately, out of the hundreds of people there, few had name tags, and those that did were usually labeled either "media" or "job seeker" or "Kenosha Blue Ducks." Hardly the people that will tell me where Dan Kolb is rumored to end up. That's the problem with high-end job fairs/ corporate gatherings: the important people never wear name tags. You are supposed to know who they are. Would you know the Brewers' or Devil Rays' general manager if he wasn't wearing a name tag?

6:23 Continued walking around. There were people from everywhere there. It was like baseball Mecca. There were representatives from dozens of minor league teams (what is a Savannah Sand Gnat?) and even international representatives. Who knew there was an Israeli Baseball League?

6:25 Hey, a familiar face: it's Kenny Williams, GM of the White Sox flanked by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. They look like they are holding court, lounging on a couch with several lackeys chattering around them.

6:27 Made my way to one of the many alcohol stands around the Christmas tree. By the way, shouldn't they limit alcohol availability at a place where hundred million dollar deals take place? No wonder Gregg Zaun got nearly 8 million dollars. Gregg Zaun.

6:28 Bought myself a beer. $5.50 for a Bud Light? Slowly sip the what better be the best damn Bud Light I'll ever drink.

6:32 A chance to talk to Ozzie Guillen! Introduced myself as "just a fan here to take in the Winter Meetings." Always the gentleman, Ozzie excused himself from the three guys he was talking with, pointed to one and explained "That was just my former lover." The sensitivity training worked well, didn't it Ozzie?

6:45 It's former Met, Giant, Brewer outfielder Darryl Hamilton! There is Lou Pinella and former Red superstar Tony Perez! And there is Tommy Lasorda! I wonder if Lasorda would convince me to come down if I was up in the Christmas tree.

7:10 Seemingly out of nowhere I came across a gaggle of reporters with their recorders out huddled around someone. That someone was Scott Boras, uber-agent supreme. Was I at the cusp of baseball history? Was something huge happening right in front of me?

7:21 As the reporters still engulfed Boras with microphones (could there ever be a successful claustrophobic agent?), I again wandered about. Then I had perhaps the highlight of my night. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mets GM Omar Minaya. Being a huge Mets fan since I was knee high to a grasshopper I had to say hello. I walked up to Mr. Minaya. "Excuse me, Mr. Minaya, I am a huge Mets fan here to take in the Winter Meetings and I would like to thank you for all that you have done for the team." Wow, as excited as I was, that came out rather well. Omar smiled, shook my hand, said thanks, and walked away. I am still naming my firstborn Omar, Pedro, or Carlos if the Mets win a championship in the next few years.

7:30 Saw a group of Asian reporters comparing notes after listening to Scott Boras for a while. Could Daisuke Matsuzaka have signed with the Red Sox?

7:33 Again walked over to the Scott Boras congregation, but veered away when I saw Hall of Fame reporter Peter Gammons talking baseball with several other people. You don't miss an opportunity to eavesdrop on Peter Gammons. It's like being on hand to see Jimi Hendrix jam, Picasso doodle, or Emeril whip up a quick dessert. A true master in his element.

7:40 After trying to listening in on Peter Gammons yet not look like a stalker, I spoke with a reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. After asking about the hubbub around Scott Boras (she defined it as nothing but a semi-daily update on the Boras family of clients), we discussed the differences between looking at the Winter Meetings from the perspective of a fan and a member of the media. For me, this was a Mecca of celebrity, a once-a-year occasion to be at the cusp of baseball news. For her, it was a chore, a long few days filled with 16 hours of being on the clock for 30 minutes of actual news. And not really exciting considering she speaks with ballplayers for a living. I guess it depends on perspective. I was still having a blast.

7:46 Hey, it's Jim Leyland and Tigers coach Lloyd McClendon. And Leyland doesn't have a cigarette in his mouth. I am surprised.

7:47 Wow, although Kenny Williams has left, Ozzie Guillen is still holding court by the couches.

7:51 Saw ex-major leaguers Ellis Burks and Bryan Harvey. Quick notes: For some reason a reporter wanted to ask Burks how J.D. Drew will do in Boston. How long ago did Burks play there? For how much less money? Yeah, of course Ellis can explain the pressure Drew will be under. Oh, and Bryan Harvey, recognizable from his trademark moustache, looked like someone straight from the Country Music Awards show. Boots, buckle, the whole nine yards.

8:01 Walked into the San Diego Padres reception room to find something to eat. I don't if I was supposed to be there but I had a free turkey sandwich courtesy of either the San Diego Padres or Walt Disney World. Mighty tasty.

8:06 Saw Tony LaRussa. Even though his Cardinals beat my Mets, I walked up, introduced myself, and said "Congratulations on your season, Mr. LaRussa." He replied "Please, it's just Tony." The genius just flows from him.

8:10 Ozzie Guillen is still the person to talk to. Even soon-to-be-Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. has joined him. Ripken is one tall dude, by the way.

8:12 Spoke with one of the many job fair candidates. As she spoke about the importance of networking, I admitted I was just there as a fan. She did tell me one hot rumor though, not sure how true it is. Barry Zito to the Rangers for 17 million a year for 6 years. Wow, my first inside scoop.

8:30 By the way, this master networker was so good, she got Ozzie Guillen to buy her a beer by claiming I bet her that he wouldn't. I am sure it helped that she was quite attractive.

8:40 Overheard Ozzie Guillen finally tell his posse "Let's go" and out he went. Suddenly the party got much less cooler.

8:42 Took one more walk around the lobby/lounge, once again checked out the Christmas tree and the pianist, saw ex-Giant, ex-Pirates pitcher Don Robinson and several other former major leaguers I recognized but I couldn't identify, and made my exit.

Wow. Why did I never visit the Winter Meetings before? For only $9.50 for parking and $5.50 for a beer I met or saw some of the biggest names in baseball and stood where the story of the 2007 season will begin. Unlike some of this offseason's multi-million dollar contracts, that 15 dollars was money well-spent.