When I was out in AZ last week covering spring training for the show, I was surprised at how different teams handle their minor league teams and their top prospects.  For example, the Kansas City Royals had all their players in camp on March 3rd and they where intersquad scrimagging on March 5th.  But the Los Angels Angels only had pitchers and catchers in camp with full squads reporting March 7th.  In addition, the Angels had a significant number more minor league players up with the big club then any other team I saw.  We will talk about this and much more on the debut show of Minor League Baseball Radio tonight at 10:00pm central!  www.milbradio.com

For those that do not know, The Tim Kuda Show has ended.  In its place, I am pleased to announce:

Minor League Baseball Radio at www.milbradio.com .  Baseball talk / discussion with a focus on the Minor Leagues!

Minor League Baseball Radio will debut this Monday night at 10:00pm central and can be heard every Monday night 10:00pm central with special shows as they warrant.  This week:

Chicago Cubs Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

            Conversations with Peoria Chiefs Manager Ryne Sandberg, Daytona Cubs Manager Jody Davis, outfield prospect Kyler Burke, and World Baseball Classic alum and first Italian signed player Alex Maestri.

Los Angeles Angels Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

            Conversations with Cedar Rapids Kernals first year pitching coach Brandon Emanual and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes hitting coach Francisco Matos.

Next week, March 17^th:

Oakland Athletics Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

            Conversations with Midland RockHounds Pitching Coach Scott Emerson and top organization pitching prospect Trevor Cahill.

Kansas City Royals Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

            2007 #2 over draft pick and top prospect Mike Moustakas and Wilmington Blue Rocks Manager Darryl Kennedy.

And introducing are new featured called “U Reports” where anyone can tell us their minor league baseball comments and / or observations and we will post them and /or get them on the air.

Shows will be broadcast LIVE on the blogtalkradio network as well as Ubroadcast.com and as always available on all podcast sites including Itunes.  For more information please visit www.milbradio.com .  Please pass the word and thank you for you continued support.

Wondering who the top prospects are on your team?  I suggest you get Baseball

America

's Top Prospect Handbook.  This annual publication is the best I have seen with regards to ranking and profiling some of the top young baseball players in the minor leagues.  If you are getting ready to follow your team in spring training and wondering who some of the players you never heard of are, this is a great reference.

The way the schedule is shaping up, I will be in Cubs camp on March 3rd, A's and Giants camp on March 4th, Royals and Rangers camp on March 5th, and Angels camp on March 6th.  Debut of the Minor League Baseball Radio March 10th at 10:00pm central! www.milbradio.com

The Tim Kuda Show is now Minor League Baseball Radio.  Just like on the Tim Kuda Show, we talk everything baseball but Minor League Baseball Radio will have a focus on the minor leagues.  Minor League baseball has really taken off the past few years.  With MLB clubs charging more and more, the minor league game has offered a good alternative for the family on a budget.  We plan on bring you the best stories from across the minors and baseball as a whole.  Check us out at www.milbradio.com .  Our debut show will air March 10th at 10pm central.

Today on The Tim Kuda Show we had the pleasure of talking to Tom Grieve and Victor Rojas both members of the Texas Rangers broadcast team.  They are excited about their team and looking forward to a great season.  That's where I am at.  I am happy pitchers and catchers are in camp and spring training games will start soon.  Let's put all the congress / steroids stuff behind us and start talking baseball again.  Baseball as the sport it is.  As I have said many times, fix the problem and play ball.  Tom and Victor want to play ball, I am with them.

BTW:  You can listen to that interview.  It should be playing but if not, visit www.timkuda.com

I just booked my spring training trip to

Arizona

the other day.  There is nothing better than in early March sitting on some nice green grass and watching baseball in beautiful

Arizona

weather.  And to top it all off, I will be able to do this 4 day trip for under $500.00.  Plane ticket, rental car, hotel room, and games all for under $500.00!  Christmas came early or late or whatever.  I just can't wait until pitchers and catchers report.  It is about this time every year, just as football is finishing up, the mid cold of January is hitting the midwest, I start getting those baseball feelings and yearnings for spring training. 

I have said this many times I my radio show that if you are any sort of baseball fan, spring training is the best thing going.  Players and coaches are approachable (for the most part, always exceptions), the games don't count so no one gets too mad (once again, always exceptions), andy everyone is having fun (once again, exceptions).  It is just a great atmosphere.

So, I will continue to count the days to March and if this in anyway convinced you to go to spring training, I will be in Arizona March 3rd to the 6th so come and say hello to me on a grass outfield maybe in Tempe or Mesa or Surprise.  So many choices.  To be continued......

www.timkuda.com

It is not like the Yankees get enough attention as it is but it seems like every couple weeks we hear something new about the Yankees and Santana.  Reports say the Yankees may be out.  Well, they are out for now because the Yankees are never out of anything when it comes to players. 

Minneapolis

is a good city and the Twins have been a good team.  It is too bad to see the Twins fall they way of every other small market team.  Develop outstanding young talent only to see them wooed away by larger markets and larger contacts.  Can you blame the Twins for wanting to move him, absolutely not!  Better to get something instead of nothing.  Maybe I need to move on into this century but I long for the days of the eights when any team, regardless of market, had a shot.

Don't blame the player for getting what they can, blame the system.

Next Live Show, Thursday the 17th at 1pm central.  www.timkuda.com

Congrats to Goose on his selections but I think a few name are missing

It is hard to say if the MLB Hall of Fame is fair.  Sure, life sometimes is not fair but let's examine the process:

Are writers really qualified to judge

HOF

credentials?  Some baseball writers are excellent in their trade and have forgotten more about the game than I will ever know.  However, there are writers voting who wouldn't know a fastball from a change-up.  If I determined who received a ballot, I would make sure the writer was a student of the game.  That person would need to understand not only the history of the game, but what it takes to play at the highest level.  They would also need to understand ones accomplishments through out a career and be able to dictate between eras.  Not sure they do that right now.  That is huge.  Each era in baseball is diferent and that needs to be considered.  Is it?

How to fix it?  Follow some of the standards I mentioned and it is a start.  www.timkuda.com

GM for the Sox's, indicated that he is trying to win now in 2008 and he will worry about 2010 when it gets here.  We can look at this from both sides.

I understand why Kenny Williams is taking this stance.  Look at his division. 

Cleveland

fell just one game short of the World Series,

Detroit

has made moves this off season that some believe make them a favorite to win it all in 08, so he is just trying to keep up.  Now the White Sox are just 3 seasons removed from the World Series and they continue not only to compete against their division, but also compete against the team on the north side of town.  The Sox's only seem to get any attention in

Chicago

when they are winning World Series.  So a move like this makes sense if you are Williams.

Here is the other side.  Look at some of the most successful teams in MLB history.  Most (always some exceptions) can trace their success on building teams through their farm system.  Some examples, the Atlanta Braves with players like Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and Javy Lopez to name a few.  The Seattle Mariner's of the 90's with players like AROD, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez to name a few.  I can find team after team that can trace its success to its roots, the farm.

So, don't bet the farm unless your farm stinks.  If you farm stinks, clean it up.  Learn from history!

I remember growing up all the bowl games where on New Year's Day.  Part of me misses that.  It was great to jump from station to station especially when one game was a blow out.  Now a day, it is nice to see all the games but you are stuck with it if it is a blow out.  Now what does New Year's Day Bowl games and baseball have in common?

It signals pitchers and catchers report in less than 6 weeks!

Catch the rewind show Wednesday at 9:00am central and Thursday at 8:00pm central.  www.timkuda.com