Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack
-- Old Dominion 64, UCSB 49-- Monarchs advance to Vegas 16 final; they'll play....
-- Oakland 104, East Tennessee State 81-- Oakland's opponent tonight will defend.
-- Valparaiso 72, BYU 70-- Crusaders advance to NIT final against........
-- George Washington 65, San Diego State 46-- Surprisingly easy win for GW.
-- Columbia 73, Cal-Irvine 67-- Lions win CBI championship.
-- ESPN said Saint Louis hired Travis Ford as its new basketball coach, then school put out a press release saying "....the process is still ongoing". Alrighty then.
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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Happy Hump Day, everyone.......
Today, a quick comment/thought on every National League team, with baseball season starting up in a few days.......
Arizona-- Spent ten of $$$ in off-season, adding Zach Greinke, are winning awful lot of spring training games, which means bupkus. We'll see starting Monday. Jean Segura looked like Ty Cobb this spring, after hitting .257 in Milwaukee LY.
Atlanta-- Last year at Turner Field, open fancy new stadium in Cobb County in 2017, are building a team that will be strong when they get there. Of their 30 top prospects in minor leagues, they've traded for 15 of them, by far most in majors.
Cubs-- Made playoffs last year, now expectations are off the charts; having a mime lead stretching exercises and doing fun things to break up the monotony of a long year might get old if Cubs struggle early on. They're favored to win World Series.
Reds-- In serious rebuild mold; Reds' TV guys are complaining that Joey Votto might walk 200 times, with Todd Frazier gone. If so, why not just bat him leadoff? If your Opening Day starter is Raisel Iglesias, no disrespect, but.....that not good.
Rockies-- Last five years, are combined 120 games under .500. Traded Tulowitzki for a SS who makes as much money and is now suspended for domestic violence-- what sense did that make? Top pitching prospect Gray may start season on the DL.
Dodgers-- New manager in Dave Roberts; plenty of injuries on pitching staff. Still amuses me that LA has a huge payroll, but justin Turner bats third, a guy the Mets just didn't want. How good is Japanese pitching import Maeda?
Marlins-- Mattingly is new manager, Barry Bonds is hitting coach, but they won't be playing. Need to keep Stanton/Fernandez healthy. Moved some of fences in, lowered others, which was overdue. Have only made playoffs twice, but won WS both times.
Brewers-- New GM looks like he is 15; another rebuilding team, despite being over .500 three of last five years. Will they trade Lucroy/Braun to fortify their farm system as they rebuild for the future?
Mets-- Defending NL champs have new DP combo, same fine rotation. Curious to see if Washington can challenge them, since rest of division looks lame. David Wright got late start to spring; who plays 3B if his back flares up again?
Phillies-- Maikel Franco has eight homers this spring, most in majors. Still saddled with Ryan Howard's ludicrous contract- he hit .229 LY and he can't defend. Phillies' second run next week will be the 90,000th run in franchise history.
Pirates-- Clint Hurdle managed in playoffs in four of his last eight years as a manager, while with Rockies/Pirates- why did Colorado let him go? Can Pirates get another .370 OB% out of catcher Cervelli? Josh Harrison replaces traded Walker at 2B.
Cardinals-- Have been in playoffs last five years and 12 of last 16. When do they get Yadier Molina back to full strength? Is Ruben Tejada good enough to man SS until Peralta gets back after All-Star break? Mike Leake should help the rotation.
Padres-- Ross-Shields-Cashner is really strong top 3 of rotation. Will Alexei Ramirez be solid at SS? They've also moved some of fences in. Padres are hoping Myers can be solid at 1B and that Jon Jay can anchor the outfield in CF.
Giants-- Its an even-numbered year, so.....Bumgarner is only starting pitcher who is under 30- they added Cueto/Samardzija, but Samardzija was awful LY with White Sox. Hopefully people realize what a great manager Bruce Bochy is.
Nationals-- Dusty Baker is the new skipper, after team went 83-79 and missed the playoffs for second time in last four years. It is a contract year for Strasburg, so if he has a big year, scumweasel agent Scott Boras will ask for the moon next winter.