It’s almost time for the boys of summer to take the field once again and we take the opportunity to see what’s up with several of the brightest stars on the baseball diamond for 2014.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a deal with manager Don Mattingly based mostly on his ability to manage one of the most eclectic and electric… rosters on any MLB team. Mattingly is much loved in the Dodger’s club house and replacing him would not have been easy.
Besides, he is a good manager and the Dodger’s organization is now expecting him to be great given the amount of raw and refined talent that the organization has assembled. Although some of his decisions were second guessed in the media last season, there is every reason to expect a run for the playoff for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the coming baseball season.
One big reason for that expectation of success is Yasiel Puig who is one of the most exciting rookies to have emerged in recent years. Within a very short period of time in a Dodger uniform, Puig has electrified the Dodger’s organization and given Dodger fans everywhere new hope for a great season in 2014.
Yes, Yasiel has been a bit inconsistent at times and his off field antics have raised a few eyebrows. However, seeing him bring a whole gang of kids out to Dodger stadium to play baseball has to warm the hearts of even his harshest critics.
One of the most talked about new players for 2014 is Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka who is currently testing out the waters with several MLB teams including the LA Dodgers. Add him to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grenke and watch out. Wherever Tanaka lands, he will most likely be joining the $100 Million dollar club within a couple of years if he lives up to his hype.
Then there is the case of Albert Pujols who has not exactly lived up to the high expectations of Angel’s owner Arte Moreno, so far. After spending 11 years in St. Louis playing first base for the Cardinals, Pujols signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to play for Anaheim.
His first two years with the Angels have been hampered by injuries but fans in Anaheim are hopeful that 2014 will be the year that Pujols begins to earn all of that big money he has been spending. After all, he still has eight years and $222 million remaining on his contract with the Angels.
