Most teams have one ace, and a few are lucky enough to have two, maybe even three top-notch starters.
But the Chicago Cubs? Now that Greg Maddux has signed on, pick a starter, any starter, and the Cubs have an arsenal rarely seen in the big leagues. Every one of them would be considered an ace anywhere else, and they all have the potential to do something spectacular each time they step on the mound.
"It's truly incredible what we have here in our starting rotation," new catcher Michael Barrett said on Thursday, Chicago's first day of workouts. "Just the names on paper, it's got to be the best staff in baseball right now. That's incredible to even feel like I'm going to be part of that."
The Cubs already had one of the National League's top rotations with Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano -- a foursome that took Chicago within five outs of the World Series a year ago. Then add in Maddux.
"It's almost unreal," new reliever LaTroy Hawkins said, shaking his head.
Every starter won 13 or more games last year, and Clement was the only one with an ERA over 4.00. Wood led the majors with 266 strikeouts, and Prior was right behind with 245.
Prior also tied for second in the NL in wins (18), was third in ERA (2.43) and was an All-Star team member in his first full season.
Zambrano ranked in the top 10 in the NL in ERA and innings pitched. Clement went 12-6 with a 3.72 ERA in his final 22 starts.
And Maddux? The four-time NL Cy Young Award winner won at least 15 games for the 16th straight year.
"For me, it's an honor to be part of this rotation," Clement said. "I used to say it last year. It's great to come to the park the other four days and watch those guys pitch because you never know.
A no-hitter could happen any of those days. A shutout. A complete game. To have that opportunity to almost be like a fan and be part of it, it should be a lot of fun."
In just four days, Alex Rodriguez has nearly paid for himself this year, at least as far as the New York Yankees are concerned.
New York has sold nearly 104,000 tickets worth a total of US$2 million since Monday, when it acquired the American League MVP from the Texas Rangers.
The sales are double the amount for the same period last year, the team said Thursday.
By acquiring Rodriguez, the Yankees committed themselves to an additional US$1.6 million in salary this year -- they owe him US$14 million and are saving US$12.4 million in what would have been paid to Aaron Boone, Drew Henson and Alfonso Soriano.
By selling 22,000 tickets Monday, 23,000 Tuesday, 27,000 Wednesday and 26,700 Thursday, New York raised its season total to 2,334,000. Those tickets have an average price of US$44.69, the team said, meaning the Yankees have sold US$104.3 million worth of seats.
In addition, New York received deposits for full and partial season plans that translate to an additional 5,000 total tickets.
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