Off-season moves make for exciting season

The Hot Corner

Baseball fans are in luck. Despite evidence to the contrary, there actually are professional teams playing outside of Boston and New York this season. We only need to look as far as Chicago and Houston for proof of this phenomenon.

As the rest of the world watches in awe as the Yankees and the Red Sox continue their arms race for American League East supremacy, a potentially better competition seems to be brewing in the National League Central, courtesy of the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros.

Hours after the Yankees pulled off a Ruthian trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire reigning Most Valuable Player third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the Cubs cashed in on their play for free agent pitcher Greg Maddux. As if Maddux's 16 consecutive seasons with at least 15 wins wasn't enough, he now joins a very talented rotation in Chicago that also includes right handers, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

The acquisition of Maddux, plus the signing of first baseman Derek Lee and the return of a healthy Corey Patterson to patrol center field, has the Cubs ready to get over that final hurdle to their first World Series since 1948. If it wasn't for the Curse of the Billy Goat, Las Vegas betters probably would have already picked the Cubs to reach the World Series.

This sentiment is not shared by the Houston Astros and, as much as Cub' fans have a feeling about this one, the Houston faithful believe it's their time now.

Despite losing left-handed closer Billy Wagner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Astros have found a way to solidify themselves as a threat to the rest of the National League. Houston has always lacked the playoff experience to get them beyond the first round, but on the morning of Dec. 11, the Astros received their early Christmas gift, in the form of ex-Yankees ace Andy Pettitte.

Suddenly, Houston has a new swagger in its step. If nothing else, Pettitte is the anti-Jeff Kent, a winner both on the field and in the clubhouse. His presence alone gives hope to the Lone Star State. As a Yankees fan, I'm still crushed that my team would ever let Pettitte get away. But, more importantly for the Astros, the pick up sends a message to the rest of the NL Central that the new front-runners will come out of Houston.

Weeks after the Pettitte transaction, my sadness turned to rage after Roger Clemens brought himself out of retirement and signed with Houston as well. Since then, the shock has worn off (but not the anger) and I have been looking online for Astros' playoff tickets and trying to find a flight down to Houston in mid-October. The Astros are turning into the Yankees; they even have the pinstriped uniforms to make it official.

Because of this, sports fans are left with what looks to be a great battle in the National League. Houston finished the 2003 season a game behind Chicago and, as a result of this winter, these two comparable teams essentially became even more balanced. I still say the Cubs have the division's best rotation. But, this is only because I want Clemens to lose 15 games and I'm skeptical of both Houston's No. 4 pitcher Wade Miller and that hitter-friendly park in which the Astros play. Still, if the wind is blowing out this year at Wrigley Field that famed Billy Goat Curse could resurface.

In the end, the Yankees and Red Sox will have opening day rosters combining to earn over $300 million. The three best shortstops in baseball now play in two towns and the greatest rivalry in all of sports appears to be taking it to the next level.

While I think that the "arms race" hype will live up to its billing, I still don't believe this race will be as tight as the one in the National League Central. I can't pick the winner of this one yet but I can guarantee you that this will be one fun season to watch.

James Irwin is a sophomore SMAD major. He currently is looking for an Andy Pettitte "throwback" Yankees jersey.