Today on The Baseball Show Clint from Diamond Hoggers and I welcomed our good friend MTD from Off Base Percentage and Monkeys Throwing Darts. Today’s show was an absolute blast.

Topics for discussion include but are not limited to the following:

• MTD’s baseball blog Off Base Percentage
• His following the Anaheim Angels
• Edinson Volquez electing a short term contract with the Cincinnati Reds
• The Albert Pujols contract extension
• Will Angels ‘prospect’ Brandon Wood ever pan out?
• We talk about Bo Jackson
• Rob Neyer’s move from the SweetSpot Network to SB Nation
• Who are the most frequently read baseball bloggers?
• The sponsoring of a Baseball-Reference Page
• We give some discussion time to Eric Chavez, Francisco Rodriguez, Nick Markakis, Johnny Cueto, and many more players

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• Splashing Pumpkins takes a look back at some of the more notable home runs hit by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 thanks to information provided by Hit Tracker.  With sluggers like Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, and Pablo Sandoval, you will never guess who owns the year’s biggest bomb…

• These days I feel like most of us have forgotten how good Grady Sizemore was from 2005-2008.  Over those four seasons, Sizemore appeared in three All-Star games while playing in 639 of 748 possible games for the Cleveland Indians.  But after several injuries – the most recent being a microfracture in his knee – Sizemore has only played in 139 games over the last two seasons.  Now in the last year of his contract, Craig Calcaterra speculates whether the Indians will pick up his $8 million option for 2012.

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On Friday afternoon the St. Louis Cardinals signed infielder Nick Punto to a one-year deal worth approximately $700K.  Punto, who can play both middle infield positions as well as third base, will likely serve as the backup for Ryan Theriot and Skip Schumaker. However, knowing Tony La Russa’s affinity for “gamers,” I’m sure that he will receive far too many starts.

The Cardinals’ middle infield now consists of three players who are under 6-feet tall and coming off seasons in which each posted less than a 1.0 WAR.  In 2010, Theriot, Schumaker, and Punto hit a combined .262 (1,314 ABs) with eight home runs and 91 RBI.  After Albert Pujols, Schumaker is considered to be the Cardinals’ second-most productive infielder headed into the upcoming season.  I know, frightening.

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• In a stunning eight-player deal, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Matt Garza, Fernando Martinez, and Zach Rosscup to the Chicago Cubs, and received a slew of prospects in return- Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Fuld, and Hak-Ju Lee.  Although the players that the Cubs parted with are just prospects – all but Fuld are yet to reach the Major Leagues – I sincerely believe that they surrendered too much for Garza.  And after reading Dave Cameron’s analysis of Garza over at FanGraphs, I’ve only become more convinced this was the case.

• Although they are not nearly as despicable as the staff of the Chicago Tribune – don’t get me started on Phil Rogers – the Chicago Sun Times sports writers are still pretty inept.  On the morning following the announcement of the Garza trade, the Sun Times published a photo of Joaquin Benoit on the cover of the sports section instead of the newly acquired Garza.  A slip up of this magnitude speaks volumes about the crack-squad of writers and editors that they willingly employ.

• This week we learned that the St. Louis Cardinals and their prized slugger, Albert Pujols, resumed talks regarding an extension before the 2011 season.  But even when the Cardinals lock up the all-mighty Pujols, will it be enough? I-70 Baseball explores the trades made by the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, and offers some insight as to how the 2011 Cardinals team will compare.

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• Baseball fans loved Tim Lincecum’s suit and bowtie look so much that Sports Illustrated thought that it would make the perfect cover to cap the year.  Lincecum has now graced the cover of SI twice in recent years, both of which are among my favorites.

• Apparently the New York Yankees do not have any interest in signing Manny Ramirez.  As Spring Training rolls around, Ramirez, who really hasn’t been the same player since returning from suspension for PEDs, will surely receive some consideration from American League teams.  However, as someone who is represented by Scott Boras and also accustomed to receiving gigantic contracts, I wonder whether Ramirez will be on a Major League roster to start the 2011 season.  Could Man-Ram be the next Jermaine Dye?

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