Marc Trestman joins Bears as head coach

The Chicago Bears have hired Marc Trestman as their fourteenth head coach in franchise history, he replaces Lovie Smith as head coach. Lovie Smith last nine seasons as the Bears head coach, going 81-63 during the regular season, and 3-3 in the playoffs. Smith only had three losing seasons while he was the Bears head coach. In 2006, in his third season as the Bears head coach Smith lead the Chicago Bulls to the Super Bowl, only to lose 29-17 to the Indianapolis Colts. That Super Bowl also made history with Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy (the Colts head coach at the time) both became the first African-American head coaches in the NFL to coach in a Super Bowl.

Who is Trestman might you ask? He was the most recent head coach for the Montreal Alouettes (a Canadian Football League team). Trestman served as their head coach from 2008-2012, during that time he had a record of 59-31. All of his five seasons coaching the Alouettes were winning seasons, and he made the playoffs in each season. In the playoffs he went 5-3, winning two Grey Cups and losing one. The Grey Cup for the CFL is pretty much their Super Bowl. Trestman has been an NFL coach before, but never was a head coach, he's had stops in Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona, Oakland, and Miami. He's also helped train QB's for the NFL draft, those QB's include: Brandon Weeden (1st round pick by the Cleveland Browns), Brock Osweiler (2nd round pick by the Denver Broncos), Tim Tebow (1st round pick by the Denver Broncos), Jimmy Clausen (2nd round pick by the Carolina Panthers), and Jason Campbell (1st round pick by the Washington Redskins). So, he's been known for being able to work with QB's. The Bears hope Trestman can improve their offense and help out their QB Jay Cutler.

As of me I think it could turn out to be a solid hire by the Bears. There's also been QB's in the NFL who did well under Trestman when he was their coach those include: Bernie Kosar, Steve Young, Scott Mitchell, Jake Plummer, and Rich Gannon. Gannon even won the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 2002 while playing for the Raiders, and Trestman was his coach. Will Jay Cutler listen to Marc Trestman, will the offense improve for the Bears and can Trestman be an NFL head coach? Those are pretty much the only three questions surrounding the Bears for the 2013 season.

Blues keep GM Doug Armstrong around

The St. Louis Blues and general manager Doug Armstrong have agreed to a five-year extension, Armstrong's deal had been set to expire on June 30, 2013. The new deal will keep Armstrong with the Blues through the 2017-2018 season. Last season, Armstrong won the General Manager of the Year award for the 2011-2012 season, after the Blues went 49-22-11. The Blues finished with 109 points in the Western Conference (second best record in the conference), and that won the Central Division for the Blues for the first time since 1999-2000.

On July 1, 2010 Doug Armstrong became the Blues 11th GM in franchise history, after Larry Pleau retired as the general manager. Armstrong had first joined the Blues in 2008 and served as the vice president of player personnel. He came from the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization after spending seventeen years with the Stars. Armstrong was the Stars general manager from January 25, 2002 until the 2007-2008 season. Under Armstrong as GM, the Stars had the third most regular season point total (427), they also collected the third-most wins (190), and they were second for home the most home victories (110) and points (240) in the entire NHL (Nationals Hockey League). The Stars also won the Pacific Division two times under Armstrong in the 2002-003 season, and the 2005-2006 season. In his first year as the Blues general manager, they went 38-33-11 with 87 points.

As GM of the Blues Doug Armstrong's record under them is 87-55-22 with a total of 196 points. Armstrong has pulled off two big trades since becoming the general manager for the Blues. He traded center Lars Eller and right-winger Ian Schultz to the Montreal Canadiens for goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Armstrong would follow that trade by trading defenseman Erik Johnson and center Jay McClement to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and right-winger Chris Stewart. Both of those moves, as well as a few other moves would help the Blues posts 109 points last season, which is their second most in team history (most points for the Blues during a season is 114 back in 1999-2000).

The Blues would end up making the playoffs for their first time since the 2008-2009 season, which included a first-round series win over the San Jose Sharks, that was the Blues first time past the first-round since 2002 (that season they beat the Chicago Blackhawks, and then lost to the Detroit Redwings in the second round). The Los Angeles Kings would knock the Blues out of the playoffs last season in the second round by sweeping them in four games, the Kings would later go onto the the Stanley Cup.

It's great to see Blues owner Tom Stillman keep Doug Armstrong around, Armstrong has proven that he knows how to build teams. And that he knows how to build winning teams in the NHL. So, everyone should look for more success coming from the Blues under Armstrong and company. The Blues also had one of the NHL's lowest payrolls last season. Coming up Armstrong will have some players to choose to keep around and try to get signed to long-term deals those players include: defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, right-winger Chris Stewart, and center Patrik Berglund. Stewart is an interesting player, he has the talent to be a good goal scorer in the NHL, but seems to fall off after starting off well or get into slumps, other than that he has the potential to be a good player, and he's still young.

Rafael Soriano lands in Washington

Free Agent closer Rafael Soriano and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a two-year contract, worth $28 million. The deal includes a $14 million vesting option for the 2015 season, that's if Soriano reaches 120 games pitched between the 2013 season and the 2014 season. Soriano has spent eleven seasons in the MLB, starting out with the Seattle Mariners (who signed him as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic back in 1996). He later wound play for the Atlanta Braves from 2007-2009, Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, and the New York Yankees in 2011 and 2012 (he opted out of his final year with the Yankees, which made him a free agent). While with the Rays in 2010, Soriano was a closer full-time. He would finish the season with an era of 1.73 and 45 saves, while pitching 62.1 innings. Soriano also made the 2010 All-Star game for his first time in his career, was the leader in saves for the American League, and won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award in 2010 (that award is given out to the best two closers in both the National League and the American League).

Starting off the 2012 season for the Yankees Soriano was a setup man for Yankees future Hall Of Fame closer Mariano Rivera (Rivera ended up injuring himself while taking flying balls in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri; which belong to the Royals). Rivera would later be done for the season after getting hurt. At first the Yankees tried to use David Robertson as closer, but he hurt himself just after closing two games for the Yankees. So, the Yankees turned to Soriano to be their closer. When he become closer he first went 12 for 12 in save opportunities. Soriano would finish 2012 with a 2-1 record, with an era of 2.26, 42 saves in 46 save opportunities, while pitching 67.2 innings.

Soriano should help out the Nationals bullpen a lot, and improve their bullpen even though the Nationals already have Drew Storen (2.37 era with 4 saves in 2012) and Tyler Clippard 3.72 era with 32 saves in 2012). Soriano gives a Nationals tougher bullpen and should be able to help them repeat as NL East Champions. So far for his career Soriano has a career record of 15 wins and 24 losses, an era of 2.78, 132 saves, 527 strikeouts, and 160 walks. He's pitched 502 innings for his career in 453 games.

Adam LaRoche stays in Washington

Free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche and the Washington Nationals, have agreed to a two-year deal to keep LaRoche in Washington. The LaRoche deal will be worth a total of $24 million, it also has a mutual option for the 2015 season, in 2013 he'll make $10 million, and in 2014 he'll make $12 million. The deal also includes a $2 million buyout. LaRoche was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 29th round in the 2000 MLB draft, overall he was picked at no.880. He's spent nine seasons in the MLB while playing for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Washington Nationals. He also suffers from ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

In 2012 for the Washington Nationals, Adam LaRoche had a career season hitting 271, with 155 hits (a career high), 33 home runs (a career high), and 100 rbi's (tied a career high from 2010 when he was with the Diamondbacks). He also picked up two awards for his first time in his career, he won his first Gold Glove (which goes to players who are best at fielding for their position), and a Silver Slugger Award (that award goes to the best offensive player at each position). LaRoche came back strong in 2012, after being hurt in 2011 and only playing 43 games after needing labrum surgery on his left shoulder. The Nationals did a great job to re-sign him and to keep him around. He brings a nice bat in their line up, and is a leader on and off the field for their young team.

He's the son of former MLB pitcher Dave LaRoche who played 14 seasons in the MLB for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and the New York Yankees. Adam also has a younger brother Andy LaRoche who has played in the MLB before, he was last in the MLB in 2011, while playing for the Oakland Athletics.

Lance Berkman "Big Puma" lands back in Texas

Free agent 1B/OF Lance Berkman and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a one-year deal, worth $10 million, the deal includes a vesting option for the 2014 season, that's if Berkman reaches 550 plate appearances. The deal also includes a $1 million buyout. So, the deal could end up being worth a total of $11 million. Berkman was born in Waco, Texas and later played college baseball for Rice University in Houston. The Houston Astros would end up drafting Berkman in the 1997 MLB draft in the first round, overall he was pick number sixteen. He spent eleven and a half seasons on the Astros, before being traded to the New York Yankees in July 2010 for third baseman Jimmy Paredes and relief pitcher Mark Melancon.

After leaving the Yankees, he would end up signing with the St. Louis Cardinals and would spend the 2011 season and the 2012 season on the Cardinals. In 2011, Berkman would win his first World Series in his MLB career and he won National League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2011, while hitting 301 with 31 home runs, and 94 rbi's. Berkman was hurt in 2012, only playing a career low 32 games. For Berkman he will become the Texas Rangers designated hitter, and at times play first base, and he'll turn 37-years old in February. So far for Lance Berkman's career he has a career batting average of 296, 360 home runs, 1,200 rbi's, and 1,843 hits. He's also been an All-Star six times in: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2011. So, hopefully in 2013 Lance Berkman will be able to have another comeback season after being hurt, this time for the Texas Rangers. Berkman also will be in the Hall Of Fame someday in the future once he retires from the MLB, and gets his name on the Hall Of Fame ballot. I'm sure Berkman will be happy being close to home, and on a team that has a chance to win. There were other teams who were also after Berkman before he signed with the Rangers, those teams were the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Houston Astros. Berkman is also one of the last two "Killer B's" still playing, the other is current Cardinals right-fielder Carlos Beltran. The others are now retired those were Craig Biggio, Derek Bell, and Jeff Bagwell. The nickname "Killer B's" were the Houston Astros nickname starting in the 1990's when they had Biggio, Bell, and Bagwell and then for part of the 2000's.

Bengie Molina accepts coaching position with Cardinals

Former Major League catcher Bengie Molina has accepted the St. Louis Cardinals offer to become their assistant hitting coach. If the name Molina sounds familiar to any baseball fans out there, he's the oldest brother Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina, and St. Louis Cardinals All-Star catcher Yadier Molina. Bengie is 38-years old and retired during the 2011 season, after not being signed by any teams in free agency.

Molina played in the MLB for thirteen seasons during his career, he was signed as an amateur free agent in 1993 by the California Angels (also known as the Anaheim Angels, and now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). He played in the MLB from 1998-2010. He won a World Series as a member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels, and also got Word Series ring as a member of the 2010 San Francisco Giants, even though he was traded to the Texas Rangers during the season (any player traded or released still gets a ring from a team if they win the World Series, both teams met in the 2010 World Series). Molina played for the Angels from 1998-2005, then would sign a one-year deal (worth $5million) with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2006. After 2006, he would hit free agency again and ended up signing with the San Francisco Giants for three years worth $16 million. He was then re-signed by the Giants to a one-year deal for the 2010 season, worth $4.5 million. During the 2010 season, rookie catcher Buster Posey pushed Molina out of a starting job, and would end up being traded to the Texas Rangers for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later, which ended up being minor league pitcher Michael Main. Molina would then retire during the 2011 season, after not being signed as a free agent by any teams. For Molina's career he finished with a career batting average of 274, 144 home runs, 711 rbi's, and 1,317 career hits.

His best season came in 2008 while on the Giants, hitting 292, with 16 home runs, and 95 rbi's (his most rbi's in a season during his career). It was Bengie's younger brother Yadier who suggested that Bengie might be open to a return, when Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was discussing candidates for a vacant spot on the coaching staff, after hitting coach Mark McGwire left to become the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach. And then former assistant hitting coach, John Mabry became the Cardinals hitting coach. So, that left a spot open on Matheny's coaching staff.

Yadier would end up calling up his oldest brother Bengie, and asking him if he's interested in a coaching job. At the time Bengie was planning to take one more season for before trying to go into coaching, and he thought that he'd start out as a catching instructor, maybe in the minors, a bench coach, or as a bullpen coach. Bengie never thought that he would become an assistant hitting coach for his first time as a coach in baseball. An interesting fact is that both Yadier and Bengie took over as starting catchers for manager Mike Matheny, during Matheny's career in the MLB.

Will Bengie Molina do a good job as assistant hitting coach for the Cardinals? We'll find out soon. I know that Mark McGwire ended up praising assistant hitting coach John Mabry for his work he did under him. Bengie also thinks that he could see himself as a future pitching coach later during his coaching career.

Nick Swisher lands with his hometown team

The Cleveland Indians and free agent outfield Nick Swisher have agreed to a four-year deal, worth $56 million, it includes an option for a fifth year worth $14 million. So, Swisher's deal could turn out to be a total of $70 million. Swisher comes to the Indians as free agent from the New York Yankees, and won a World Series title with the Yankees in 2009. He also was on the 2010 American League All-Star team. Swisher was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, he was picked in the first round at 16th overall out of Ohio State. He was born in Columbus, Ohio. His dad Steve Swisher is a former MLB catcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and the San Diego Padres from 1974-1982.

Other than playing for the Athletics and the Yankees, Nick has played for the Chicago White Sox only for one season in 2008, he was then traded to the New York Yankees after the 2008 season. Swisher plays right field, but he can also play some first base. During the 2012 season Swisher hit 272 with 24 home runs, and 93 rbi's (his second highest numbers in rbi's for his MLB career, his most were in 2006 when he had 95 rbi's). He might have been overpaid by the Indians, but then again the Indians are trying to improve their team. So, it's a good move for the Cleveland Indians after trading right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds. Pretty much, Swisher's power will make up for Choo's power lost in the Indians starting line-up. Swisher has been in the majors since 2004, so far his career stats are: batting average 256, 209 home runs, 673 rbi's, and 1,085 hits. Again, I like the signing by the Indians, even though they may have overpaid for him. Then again lots of free agents get overpaid on the free agent market. Hopefully he can help the Indians improve, and get them back to being a winning baseball team.  

I like what Nick Swisher said on his Twitter account, when he signed with the Cleveland Indians, here's what he said to try to get their fans excited: "Wow! What a crazy few weeks," Swisher said. "Hey Cleveland! Are you ready? Because I'm coming home!"