@Buster_ESPN: OAK scouts saw Manny Ramirez work out recently and they are interested. Final decision whether to try to sign him will happen in next week.

While I said the other day that I didn’t like the signing for Baltimore, I feel differently about Oakland.

Baltimore is a fairly veteran team that has some young up and coming talent. They’re on the verge of being competitive so let the guys who’ve been there get their due. Why push them aside for someone who won’t be around for a good portion of the year.

With Oakland they’ve got a very young team that well sucks. Yep, there’s some talent but they’re light years away from being competitive in the American League West. In addition to that they have no power supply and I’m quite sure that’s the only reason they’re looking at Ramirez.

They need someone who can give them a long ball threat. They’re not going to care that he can’t run anymore, they’re not going to care that he can’t really hit for average anymore. They’re just going to want someone who could put the fear of a homerun into a pitchers head.

After the departure of Josh Willingham they have no hitter who hit more then 15 homers in 2011. That’s absolutely pitiful which tells you exactly why they want Manny Ramirez. They’ll be willing to wait out those 50 games just for that threat.

I’m thinking he’ll pretty much be a replacement for Hideki Matsui. Meaning he’ll mainly play designated hitter with an occasional appearance in the outfield.

The only concern I have is this.. Do you really want Manny Ramirez being the mentor for such a young team?

@Chris_Broussard: Brandon Jennings told me today he’ll strongly consider leaving Bucks for big market team

It’s a great article that actually shows the problem with today’s NBA. Pretty much it goes like this, Brandon enjoys playing in Milwaukee but he’s not going to think twice about a larger market. Can anyone blame him after seeing what’s happened with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and possibly Dwight Howard? No you can’t.

The players have to do what they have to do for their financial future. They’ll be set on base salary thanks to the max contract he can get from the Bucks but being in Milwaukee will he ever see big endorsement deals? Hell no. So you can’t blame him for wanting to go after those dollars.

Here’s some quotes from the ESPN article.

“It has nothing to do with the city of Milwaukee or anything like that because that’s where I started my career,” Jennings said. “They’ve been nothing but good to me. (Coach) Scott Skiles and (general manager) John Hammond have been good to me. It’s just that I’m understanding the business of basketball now.” (ESPN.com)

“I am going to keep my options open, knowing that the time is coming up,” Jennings said in an email interview. “I’m doing my homework on big market teams.”(ESPN.com)

“I’m not saying I won’t (sign an extension with the Bucks) and I’m not saying I will,” he said. “I’m just keeping my options open.”(ESPN.com)

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If Milwaukee ever gets to the point where they have to trade them they should get an insane haul for the 22-year old. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that would love to see him stay in Milwaukee.

The one things that fans should be thankful for he’s going to play hard as long as he’s a Milwaukee Buck. This is one kid I believe what he says.

“I’m going to keep playing hard every night for the Bucks as long as I’m there,” Jennings said. “I’m not promising that’s where my future will be. I will make sure me and (agent Bill Duffy) look at all the best options.”(ESPN.com)

I’m getting greedy though and thinking damn how good would he look in a New York Knicks uniform?

I never thought this was a possibility especially with Jhoulys Chacin coming off back to back strong seasons but wow was I wrong. And there’s two reasons for this. Guthrie has really impressed his new boss, general manager Dan O’Dowd while Chacin has royally pissed off his boss.

First, the good stuff. Guthrie has come to Colorado with an attitude of wanting to work hard and be a winner. That’s exactly what the new boss wants to hear right?

Jeremy Guthrie has designs on starting opening day for the Rockies. No one is prepared to declare him the ace, but O’Dowd came away impressed after talking extensively with the right-hander after acquiring him from Baltimore on Monday. “His mindset, desire and competitive fire is to be the top guy. The change of scenery and change of leagues should help, and we want him to pitch to contact more. When he attacks the strike zone, he’s very, very good,” O’Dowd said. (Denver Post)

Now to the negative. Chacin is reportedly overweight and O’Dowd is not pleased with this.

Jhoulys Chacin disappointed O’Dowd with his offseason workouts. O’Dowd believes Chacin needs to drop weight because the added pounds affect the balance in his delivery and undermine his fastball command. Chacin spent much of the winter training in Venezuela rather than working out in Tucson. A person close to Chacin said Thursday that the right-hander currently weighs 226 pounds, and expects to be close to the 218 he was last spring when he reports to spring training next Sunday.

“I would say he could have worked a little harder this winter. I am not really happy about that,” O’Dowd admitted. ” I don’t think it will be issue by time it gets to camp. But it has to get to a point where he has maturity and discipline and realizes that this is his career.” (Denver Post)

So here’s the problem I see. Chacin may be over the weight O’Dowd wants him at but it’s not going to be much different then what he started 2011 at. I figure he’ll be slightly over that 218 because I don’t know how he’ll lose eight pounds in less then two weeks and be fully healthy. But if there’s not much difference then what’s the problem?

Well like that Denver Post article says O’Dowd is trying to change the culture of the Rockies. He wants these young kids to become more dedicated and start to show the maturity that veteran players should have.

Which means if you’re going to work out at home, away from the team’s watchful eye then you better handle your business. Don’t show up to Spring Training out of shape, it sets a bad example especially when it’s a pitcher who is penciled in as your ace.

This is the exact reasons why Guthrie’s name is now in the mix for the Opening Day start. He’s working hard and willing to do whatever it takes to improve. When management wants to change the culture in a clubhouse that’s the kind of guy they’re going to look to, no matter if it’s the best baseball move or not.

It should be interesting to see how this plays out during the next few weeks. Will there be bad blood or will today’s comments get Chacin’s attention?

“Growing in my relationship with the Lord and my faith… I just became so convicted about wanting to honor my husband with my body and wanting to be a role model for younger women out there that look up to me,” Kylie explained.

“My body should only be for my husband and it’s just a sacred thing.”

Those are the worst things to hear as this beauty had a promising modeling career ahead of her. And now we honor her.

@SpearsNBAYahoo: Restricted free agent forward Wilson Chandler plans to re-sign with Nuggets once he returns from China, his agent Chris Luchey told Y!Sports

@SpearsNBAYahoo: Luchey tells Y! there is “significant interest” from other teams, but Chandler will re-sign either to rest of season or long-term with DEN.

After reading these tweets tonight there was one thing surprised me. Some might think it’s the fact that there is “significant interest” from other teams but it’s not that. In my opinion that was expected, Chandler has been a solid performer over his five seasons, averaging 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

What surprised me is that the deal could be long-term. I wasn’t expecting any team to offer a long-term deal to any free agent at this point in the season. Typically you would see teams sign pro-rated contracts and wait till the off season to work something out.

Guess things are different when it’s a talent like Chandler, especially with the maturity he’s shown this year. He signed a deal in China knowing full and well there was no opt-out clauses should the NBA Lockout end. While other players bitched and moaned when the lockout did end Chandler just went about his business. In fact he’s been nothing short of dominant over there averaging 26 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

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The only problem with Chandler joining the Nuggets is that knows when this will happen. The league he’s currently playing in has 17 teams and 8 of them make the playoffs. His team is currently in ninth place.

If his team were to miss the playoffs then his season would end on February 15th and he could be a NBA uniform within days.

If his team made the playoffs he could be playing till sometime in April depending on how far they go. That’s right April. So there’s a chance he won’t even play in 2012 which would make this only post worthless.

@Buster_ESPN: The Marlins could make an offer to Cespedes today. Meanwhile, the Orioles are assessing their level of interest.

Buster’s source is Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports – School of Roch. Kubatko is reporting that Fred Ferreira, the Orioles executive director of international scouting, will be taking a trip to the Dominican Republic within the next ten days to scout Cespedes. If he likes what he says one could presumably expect an offer to follow.

Ferreira will head to the Dominican Republic in about 10 days to watch Cespedes work out. This will be his first look at the 26-year-old Cuban defector since shortly after the Winter Meetings in December.

Ferreira has been reading reports provided by a few of his scouts during the Dominican Winter League. (MASN Sports – School of Roch)

Here’s my thoughts and get ready for a couple if statements. If the Marlins are unable to close the deal and if Ferreira likes what he sees then I think the Orioles have to pull the trigger here.

The only other free agent outfielder being mentioned with Baltimore right now is Manny Ramirez and one would have to assume Cespedes is the better option. Even if the guy winds up being a flop I’d rather give him a chance then someone who is going to have to sit out a third of the season.

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While in the Dominican, Ferreira is also going to take a look at another prospect, 19-year old Jorge Soler. He’s not going to cost the team who signs him much money at all as he’s far away from the big leagues. He’ll most likely have to start his career in Single-A so he’d be your normal pluck a kid from the Caribbean and hope he works out.

First video of Kobe at Larry’s Steaks in Wynnefield.

And here’s the note from Philly.com about Kobe hanging out at Delilah’s after the game.

Kobe Bryant drowned his sorrows over his hometown loss to the Sixers Monday night at Delilah’s (100 Spring Garden). The newly-single Lower Merion raised Lakers superstar dropped by the gentleman’s club around 1 a.m. Tuesday with a few friends and was joined a little later by teammate Andrew Bynum who had just dined at Del Frisco’s (15th & Chestnut). (Philly.com)