Course you can't. Wait...it says that Merv Rettenmund is the hitting coach for 2008? I think that's a mistake unless I missed something. And Heath Bell's cousin is Drake Bell? That's pretty funny. Who knew? That and he likes chocolate chip cookies and his wife is half Chinese.

While I *totally* appreciate that Adrian was recognized as one of the most underrated players and that KT is awesome, it drives me nuts the way people come up with any excuse to give Jake less credit for what he did last year than he deserves.

The argument that Jake struck out 28 pitchers while Johan struck out only 1, and so Johan is obviously better pisses me off (I may be biased).

If nothing else, starting pitchers are better players in the NL than in the AL - for the simple reason that they always know they have to pick up the bat every ninth at-bat as well as go out and throw the ball. It'll be interesting to see how Santana does when he has to swing as well as throw. But not only does Jake have to hit, all of the pitcher's he strikes out hit too. While a pitcher isn't exactly the toughest guy in the lineup to get out, they're still a challenge. And I would think they're harder to strike out -- they're more likely to make contact and create an easy out on one or two pitches. I'd love to see the numbers on % Ks vs. % other outs.

Whatever. If you want to criticize Jake, talk about how he may have psyched himself out in a big game or two, and how he tends to want to pitch until his arm falls off, but don't make the lamely imply that the 28 Ks against pitchers were worth less than the others last year -- or that Johan's other Ks are worth more.

Sigh. Long season, for sure. . . . I CAN'T WAIT!!