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There’s a new addition to the sidebar today: the MLBTradeRumors Library.  Scroll down to the bottom of the lefthand sidebar to see all of the baseball books I own and endorse.

One aspect of both ESPN and Baseball Prospectus that I love is the chats.  I feel that it really gives you a sense of a writer’s personality, and that it’s a challenge for the person to answer questions in a rapid-fire way.

I’d love to do chats here and there for both MLBTR and RotoAuthority, but don’t have the tech savvy.  Does anyone know how to create some simple chat software, or somewhere that I can license some?  It would have to drop all the questions in a queue as they arrive and let me choose which to publish on the fly.  Drop me a line at mlbtraderumors@gmail.com if you can help.  Thanks.

Rany Jazayerli of Baseball Prospectus explains his unhealthy obsession with knuckeballer Charlie Haeger.  My favorite quote:

"To put it bluntly: what Charlie Haeger has already done—reached the major leagues before his 23rd birthday while throwing knuckleballs almost exclusively—is almost unprecedented."

CubDumb chips in with some stats you won’t find elsewhere – though a small sample, Haeger’s knuckler looked better than Tim Wakefield’s last year.

More reading material:

Matt Hurst may have debunked the K-Rod cheating theory.  All he had to do was ask.  Do you buy it?

Fire Joe Morgan takes on Shaughnessy again.

Jeff Sackmann likes the early returns on J.J. Hardy and Derrick Turnbow.  If those two play to their potential, the Brewers are the team to beat in the NL Central.

Derek of CubTown discusses Ted Lilly’s Cub debut.  There’s something about Lilly and Hill’s style that I enjoy, the lefties racking up Ks with big curves and 89 mph heaters.  Derek also discusses Lou Piniella’s little "pep talk" to Ryan Dempster.  It was awesome watching Lou give him the business like that.  I doubt that will make him a good closer but I liked it anyway.  I should add that despite yesterday’s save for Dempster I have to recommend Bob Howry in fantasy leagues.  Demp did not appear in control.   

DRays Bay throws around a few trade possibilities involving Jorge Cantu.

Found by way of a Keith Law chat – J.C. Bradbury has asked around, and it appears HGH has no real performance-enhancing benefits to baseball players.

Jayson Stark’s new Rumblings and Grumblings is a must-read.  One tidbit: Jose Capellan to Colorado? 

I’ve added a new link on the sidebar under MLBTR Features called GM Trade Profiles.  So far I’ve looked at Kenny Williams, Brian Sabean, Kevin Towers, and J.P. Ricciardi.  Who would you like to see next?  Maybe down the road I’ll do the same GM evaluation in regard to free agents and waiver pickups.

This is a question better geared for my RotoAuthority blog, but I figured I’d throw it out here.  I feel ashamed for having to ask this, since I completed at least a couple of statistics classes in college.  Oh well.

The question: what’s a valid sample size for us to use to judge a baseball player’s season?  Let’s assume 550 ABs for a hitter and 200 innings for a pitcher.  When do the 2007 numbers start to become predictive of the player’s entire season?  200 ABs, 75 innings?  Beats me.

I am so far removed from "real" stats that I don’t know where to begin.  Anybody out there know how to mathematically decide to cut bait on a player?  Give your thoughts in the comments, or else email me at rotoauthority@gmail.com. 

Ah, that was fun.  Chris Carpenter was surprisingly off tonight, and the Mets won easily. Carlos Beltran made an awesome throw to nail David Eckstein at the plate.  It was a perfect throw.  I’ve got the day off tomorrow, so I should be able to crank out plenty of rumors in the morning before settling in for the Cubs game.

Some reading for you tonight:

Travis Buck is the starting right fielder for the A’s.  Read all you need to know about him over at RotoAuthority.

Gotham Baseball’s 2007 Mets preview.

Check out The 700 Level, a Phillies blog that is all dressed up for Opening Day.

MVN’s new minor league baseball site.

I know a few of you still have late fantasy drafts…the 2007 RotoAuthority Fantasy Guide was just updated last night and will be updated weekly throughout the season.

I’ve been alerted that MLBTR snagged the slot for the ninth best baseball blog, according to Sports Media Challenge. Pretty cool.  Thanks for reading this ugly black and white thing I created.

I have big plans for the site; might even take it full-time one of these days.  Now that would be interesting. 

Speaking of blogs on that list, check out this post at Lookout Landing.  Funny stuff. 

There’s not much going on today in the world o’ rumors.  By now you’ve heard most of the spring training trade candidates, and they’re not thrilling.  That said, here’s what’s going on:

• The Boston Globe quotes an AL GM who thinks the open fifth starter spot in Boston inches them a little closer to Roger Clemens.  The GM favors Houston despite the financial power of the other two contenders.  The Astros need Clemens the most.
• Clint Barmes was sent to Triple A, with the Cubs and Rangers still tracking him as a possible utility infielder.  Wouldn’t be a bad move for either club, though the Rockies would be selling low.  Really low.
• Byung-Hyun Kim was moved to the bullpen as Josh Fogg won the Rockies’ fifth starter job.  The Denver Post reports stronger interest in him as a reliever.  The Rocky Mountain News says the Royals, Rangers, and Marlins are considering trading for him.  Perhaps the Rangers could acquire Barmes and Kim in one deal.
• Giants’ pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney is on the bubble, and the club might trade him.  He’ll make $950K this year and is a solid bench bat.  It’s going to be Sweeney or Jason Ellison, who is out of options.  The Fish have scouted Ellison but were told he’s not available.
• The Pirates’ Jose Castillo, who played second base last year, lost the third base competition to Jose Bautista.  It could spell a trade for Castillo.  The Braves were previously interested, but I think they’ll give Kelly Johnson an honest shot.

Would you like to win a copy of the 2007 RotoAuthority Fantasy Guide?  And possibly a ton of ProTrade money to boot?  Here’s your opportunity in case you missed out on the first challenge.

I’m giving away five more fantasy guides.  The challenge starts on March 26th at midnight and will have 1,000 entrants.  It’ll run until March 30th.  Click here to access the challenge.

If you’re not familiar with it, ProTrade lets you trade baseball players as if they’re stocks.  It’s completely free.  You can buy players or short them.

Jayson Stark has a new column up today chock full of trade rumors, and it’s not behind the Insider wall.  Check it out.  Some highlights:

• Stark’s source doesn’t think the A’s are actively pursuing Byung-Hyun Kim or any starter.  And teams are wary of using Kim as a reliever.
• Jim Bowden’s price is way too high for Chad Cordero.  Bowden did this with Soriano and it was a blunder.
• Closer-worthy relievers like Lidge, Otsuka, and Linebrink will stay put.  Juan Cruz is an intriguing name that is on the market.
• Plenty of available outfielders, including affordable sluggers like Jason Lane and Marcus Thames.