New faces in new places

Tonight is an exciting night for baseball because three big names will be making their debuts for their new teams.

Ken Griffey Jr. will join the White Sox in Kansas City to take on the Royals. Unfortunately, I no longer leave near K.C. or I would definitely be at this game. If there are any Royals fans out there who read BCB on a regular basis... if you go to the K tonight take some pictures of Junior for me and send them along. Griffey will wear #30 for the South Siders (correction: Griffey will wear #17). Junior wore the number in honor of his dad for the majority of his time with the Reds. I don't know this for sure but I don't think that Junior has played in Kauffman Stadium since his days in the American League - it's a big center field to patrol.

Jason Bay will man left field at Fenway tonight. I'm unsure about what number Bay will bear on the back of his new Bo Sox jersey. His #38 is somewhat claimed by Curt Schilling. I think Bay will do good in Boston. He hasn't played in the big games that his predecessor has but his stats are similar (at least this year) with the exception of RISP... and Bay is a MUCH better outfielder with younger legs. Bay is very different than Manny because, as WHYGAVS points out, he doesn't have a hint of arrogance and goes about the game in a very professional manner. Here's a nice piece by Matt Porter of the Boston Globe: The Jason Bay file: (more than) 30 things to know about the newest Sox slugger.

"Manno the Clown" will make his debut under the lights at Dodger Stadium wearing #28 (#24 is retired in honor of Walter Alston). Yes, L.A. seems to be a good fit for guy like Manny but we'll have to see about Dodger Stadium. Pitching and defense has been the winning formula at Chavez Ravine and Manny is severely lacking in the latter. The expanses of the Dodger Stadium outfield may amplify Ramirez's ineptitude with the glove.