I would have to believe that Regins has at least had a roundabout conversation with the principles in Baltimore regarding Nick Markakis. Stoneman tried to pry him loose from there when he was officially calling the shots. I understand the inevitable comment that "This is not the type of player that a team would trade", however almost everyone has a price…………and someone has to dream.

Markakis and his agent have been playing cat and mouse with Oriole’s ownership for a while now. Markakis, a possibly budding superstar, is eligible for arbitration, and the two parties have been dancing around the maypole for weeks, and months. I seem to remember squabbling last season before they finally re-newed him just before the season started for little more than league minimum, so there is a history of contentiousness there.

It’s reported everywhere that Baltimore wants/needs a long-term solution at SS in a bad way. There have been recent reports of their interest in Felix Pie (although I personally think they can do better). Additionally, everybody goes "Gah-Gah" over young starting pitching.

Although I am not one to throw around the names of our young talent as useless trading chips (or someone else’s money) as many here are want to do, I must admit that I have given a lot of thought to this scenario:

One of Aybar/Izturis

One of TEvans/Willits

The KICKER……Nick Adenhart (another Maryland native).......for Nick Markakis.

Peter Angelos has a history of making, and then not making, strange deals over the years. Little more than two years ago, he backed out of a supposed deal with Stoneman for Santana and Aybar for Miguel Tejada (I can’t remember if we didn’t offer another in that package, too). If he doesn’t land Teixeira, it’s speculated that he’ll also find a way to move Brian Roberts, so conceivably we could add another player for George Sherrill….but I digress.

Markakis has abundant numbers. He does well batting 2nd. He bats left handed. He has a rifle arm,…..and he just turned 25 years old.

He plays RF, but I’m sure he could be persuaded to play LF for a while until his future permant home in RF becomes available..........Markakis is offense and defense for now…………..and for the FUTURE.

Lee Jenkins wrote this article that has to stiffen the spine of any one of us hoping that fate falls our way regarding the possible resigning of Mark Teixeira for the next 6-7-8-? years. Although I, as much as anyone, strongly dislike Boras' tactics in negotiations for "our" players, I have to give him credit for being the best at what he does...

...sometimes more for himself than for his players. Regardless, this article gives me a few chills. Read, and enjoy.

A cursory look at our guys in the Winter Leagues in the Domican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico calls to my attention these players. Maybe I missed some.............maybe I didn't.............I didn't did finally check out the Arizona Fall League.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Oriente de Estrellas

Brandon Wood

Bobby Wilson

Bradley Coon

Reggie Willits

Ben Johnson

Shane Loux

Gigantes del Cibao

Sean Rodriguez

Kendry Morales

Rafael Rodriguez

Tigres del Licey

Erik Aybar

Adam Pavkovich

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Caneros de los Mochis

Francisco Rodriguez

Venados de Mazatlan

Freddy Sandoval

Miguel Gonzales

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes

Juan Rivera

Tigres de Aragua

Abel Nieves

Tiburones de La Guaira

Francisco Rodriguez

Anthony Ortega

Caribes de Anzoategui

Amalio Diaz

Bravos de Margarita

Kasey Olenberger

Terry Evans

Aguilas del Zulia

David Austen

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas

Wil Ortiz

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Scottsdale Scorpions

Nick Green

Robert Mosebach

Tim Duff

Chris Petit

Barrett Browning

David Herndon

I don't usually find heart-tugging articles in the LA Times about the Angels, but this one made me happy.

After watching his his 28 wins during his '05 and '06 seasons, I was a solid Ervin Santana fan. His SO's were tracking those of Kelvim Escobar until he was sent back to AAA. It hurt me and grated on my guts watching his troubles last season, and then reading what I thought were fairly ignorant, know-it-all comments regarding his pitching abilities. I live in a world where I long ago learned how incredible it is that so many people are allowed to roam the streets unattended, much less pass judgement on a phenomenal talent wearing my uniform while trying to find his way through an armed mine field standing in the batter's box in a major league baseball game.

Tomorrow's game against Kansas City is the third time this season that Magic Santana will be called upon to begin a series on the road for the Angels. He made us proud both in Texas and Detroit over the last few weeks. His 5-0 record also includes a win in Minnesota, and against Seattle and Oakland (Hey, not bad). He pitched a pretty good game against Cleveland too, only to have our bullpen give up the game.

With Lackey and Escobar out, I find myself anxious for the next starts by Santana and Saunders, believing our chances for wins are great, but also hoping to prove everyone wrong for having given up too soon.

I like looking at MLB stats to see just how we stack up. Seeing GA's BA dip to .228 is eye-catching to say the least.

After seeking out our "good guys" at the top of the stats pages, I find it surprising to see some other household names that have often been mentioned on this site with GA-itis, and even worse.

Let's have a rousing round of applause for Johan Santana.

with the AAA Salt Lake City BEEs after their fourth straight win over the Dodgers AAA Las Vegas affiliate....... He finally gave up a hit tonight in a scoreless ninth inning, his first in three outings.

I'm a little fascinated with Arredondo's story because he was a shortstop-turned-closer who had made it to AA Arkansas before being demoted back to A Rancho Cucamonga for insubordination, arguing with his manager on the mound.

He certainly had a decent spring, but was shipped out to minor league camp along with the very early cuts. When all the dust settled, he shows up on the AAA Salt Lake City roster, has 3 saves in 3 appearances in 4 games........and who knows where he's going from here?

Is Arredondo trade bait,......or is he (eventually) our next closer? Certainly we need more time to see what he does long term in Salt Lake City (if he stays there after the Angels send down Bulger or O'Day), but I find myself hastening to read the box score of the BEEs' games to see what he has done.

Finally! It wasn't up at 6:00 AM this morning.

Jose Arredondo made the team.....at least temporarily. So did Shane Loux.

Giancarlo Alvarado is new to me.

Bradley Coon is the third outfielder.

Don't know how long this has been up. But if this collection of photos doesn't get your heart pumping, you're dead.

Don't know if this was on the news, but I felt like clapping after reading of the feat. While playing in our younger days and having accomplished such, most of us would have loudly proclaimed, "I'm ready!"

Hernandez will be the opening day pitcher against the Angels next Monday.