Carlos Zambrano Traded To Marlins

The Chicago Cubs traded away veteran pitcher Carlos Zambrano to the Florida Marlins in exchange for less veteran pitcher Chris Volstad.

Zambrano is best remembered for fighting teammates in the dugout, attacking water coolers with a bat, and sort of retiring in a temper tantrum last season.  Volstad tends to give up home runs.

The Marlins have now assembled themselves a colorful cast with the always chatty and quotable Ozzie Guillen managing a roster that includes former Mets jaker shortstop Jose Reyes and shortstop hothead lazy boy Hanley Ramirez now displaced to third base, along with recently aquired pitchers Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell.

Come springtime, the best job in the world will be being a baseball beat writer in Miami.

Barry Larkin Voted Into Hall Of Fame

Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds shortstop his whole career from 1986 to 2004, 1995 NL MVP, was voted into the hall of fame by the baseball writers, the third year his name has been on the ballot.

We're fine with it, as long as you're going to vote Ryne Sandberg and Jim Rice into the hall of fame, not vote in Gil Hodges, and wait twelve months after his death to vote in Ron Santo, sure, why not.

Not making the cut this year were pitcher Jack Morris, first baseman Jeff Bagwell, closer Lee Smith, and outfielder Tim Raines.

Jose Canseco has still not named the juicer he says got elected to the hall. 

Happy New Year

Brrrrr!  And those line-drives sting.