Members Of Congress Offer Insight On, Um, Baseball

ESPN The Magazine's baseball issue allows members of Congress to weigh in on their home-area teams at the end of each team's preview (because this is the year of the investigation, apparently). Some are interesting, some are nonsensical, and some do what members of Congress do - talk about themselves.

Among the highlights (click on their names for contact information):

Rep. Robert Andrews, D-NJ, on the Phillies (picked 3rd by ESPN): "I don't think Johan Santana makes the Mets that much better. I mean, I wish we had him, but I don't think he's a dominant pitcher."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, on the Indians (sorta): "Naming rights are one of the biggest frauds on the fans, because for the most part the public is paying for these stadiums. Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) ought to be named Taxpayers Stadium."

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich, on the Tigers (picked 2nd by ESPN): "I was joking with GM Dave Dombrowski at an event that he was silly to sign a guy named Pudge and an older pitcher named Rogers. I'm 44 years old, and if we had signed me I could have given him both those things for a fraction of the price."

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn, on the Twins (picked 5th by ESPN): "You don't know how happy I am not to talk about the Iraq war. One of my staffers was at spring training in Florida and called to say, 'Francisco Liriano looks healthy, like he was in 2006.' I've always liked that eternal optimism of spring, especially in Minnesota." (Liriano is starting the year in the minors.)

Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md, on the Orioles (picked 5th by ESPN): "Nick Markakis is a classic Oriole: He's not flashy, his technical skills are outstanding, he brings a tremendous work ethic and attitude. And he's a hero to the Greek-American community. I have cousins named Markakis."

Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif, on the Dodgers (sorta): "I think Southern California will have some good baseball to watch in both leagues. But the Los Angeles team will do better. The day that Anaheim pays LA city taxes, I'll consider them LA as well."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, on the Giants (sorta): "We're all so grateful for the contributions Barry Bonds made to the San Francisco community. I'll always remember him embracing Willie Mays after his 756th home run. I'm especially glad it happened on Italian Night."

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, on the Astros (sorta): "I don't have any favorites on the current team. I was a big Craig Biggio fan; I rode in a rodeo parade with him recently. And I'm personal friends with Roger Clemens. I've known him a long time."

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-NY, on the Mets (picked 1st by ESPN): "I'm with Carlos Beltran in his war of words with Jimmy Rollins. Maybe it's because I was raised in the school yards of New York City, but a little trash-talk never hurt. I'd like to see the Mets have more fight this year."

Either Pelosi, Poe or Kucinich get the award for the goofiest response, with Becerra earning an honorable mention for making it all about taxes.