The Kids Are Alright

The other day, Peter Gammons wrote about some of baseball's franchise players under the age of 24, and it's certainly an exciting time to be a baseball fan. Who isn't looking forward to watching the development of Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera or David Wright over the next 10 years?

What's equally impressive is the development of some of baseball's young pitchers. Maybe it's from years of watching the Red Sox young pitchers (Brian Rose, John Wasdin-the list goes on and on) falter when they reach the majors, but every night there appears to be a young starter enjoying success at the game's highest level.

While starting pitchers aren't normally regarded as "Franchise" players, I find it difficult to not be excited about the futures of guys like Felix Hernandez, Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander. What happens when/if Boston moves Jonathan Papelbon to the rotation and Detroit does the same with Joel Zumaya? What about some of the starters who are not quite young, but still a few years away from 30? Johan Santana, Rich Harden, Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Webb and Josh Beckett?

The more this season plays out, the more it seems that baseball is in a transitional stage. As the players who elevated the game, both naturally or with pharmacuetical products, from its post 1994 oblivion head towards retirement, both naturally or forced into it by FBI investigations and/or perjury charges pending, the game of baseball appears to be in good hands.

Tonight's Marquee Matchup

- There's a Johnson & Johnson duel tonight in the Bronx, as Jason goes up against Randy.

- One night after Curt Schilling and Johan Santana left the score 1-1 at the end of 9 innings, in a game the Twins won in 12 innings, the Sox and Twins send two of the more shell-shocked starters in baseball, Matt Clement and Brad Rake, to the mound. Here's a tip: The score will not be 1-1 after 9 innings, and likely won't be that way after the 1st.

- To appease the royalty fan in you (not the Royals fan, of which there are about 7 remaining), the Cardinals send Sir Sidney Ponson to the mound in PNC Park in Pittsburgh to face Zach Duke.

(Thanks. I'll be here all week. Try the veal!)

The best matchup of the night takes place in Philadelphia, for the second game of their 3-game series. The Mets took game one of the series thanks to the yardwork provided by David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Co. The Phillies made it interesting, but then that Wagner guy came in and nailed the door shut.

Tonight's game will be on ESPN, which spares you from having to listen to the Mets broadcast on the Extra Innings package. I've become somewhat of an aficianado of MLB broadcasts over the last few years, and I'd rate the Mets' telecasts near the bottom. The most enjoyable broadcasts are Vin Scully doing the Dodgers games, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy are impeccable every night on NESN, and I actually like the Mariners broadcasts with Dave Neihaus and either Dave Henderson or Dave Valle for FSN Northwest.

On the other side of the spectrum are the Yankees, Mets and the Washington Nationals. The worst, and I mean worst, are the White Sox broadcasts. Hawk Harrelson's "He gone" strikeout call is the most annoying sound not made by Stuart Scott. I'm not unconvinced that it doesn't cause seizures.