Tonight’s video is one of the all-time classics in my book. Let’s just call it Retro Night here at HB as we go back in time and relive arguably the greatest guitarist in rock n’ roll history.

As an avid fan and collector of the one and only Jimi Hendrix, he’s the best I’ve ever heard Imo. These kind of debates are always open to debate. Some prefer Page. Others love Eddie Van Halen. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Duane Allman. Eric Clapton, etc.

But when it comes to originality and creativity and what Jimi accomplished in a brief period, I don’t believe anyone is better.

His cover version of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” is one of my favorite listens. I think this video puts it in perspective! :-D 

Today’s comes courtesy of the original Guns N’ Roses. One of the greatest rock n’ roll acts in history. They had many awesome tracks from Appetite and the two Illusions. But one of the best things I always liked about their songs were how well put together the videos were.

Maybe it had to do with what a nutball Axl is. But I’ll tell you one thing. The man knows how to put on a show. That’s if you were fortunate enough to see him and his new band recently like I did at MSG last year and Hammerstein.

In any event, one song the new band doesn’t play which I feel would be awesome is Civil War. It’s probably one of the best songs they ever did. While other hits such as “November Rain,” “WTTJ,” “Paradise City,” “My Michelle,” “Patience,” ”Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “You Could Be Mine” are played over and over again, songs such as Civil War and “Estranged” fly under the radar.

In any event, here is the video for Civil War. Enjoy it! :-) 

Mets Interested In Santana: With the Yankees out of the mix for Twins’ ace Johan Santana, the Mets have stepped up their interest in acquiring the two-time AL Cy Young winner.

The question is does Omar Minaya have enough pieces to get new Minnesota GM Bill Smith’s attention?

“We have some pretty good prospects,” Minaya told the AP. “We have the players.”

Unless they’re willing to part with top prospect Fernando Martinez, possibly Carlos Gomez and pitchers Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber, it’s unlikely that Santana’s next destination will be at Shea.

Having already moved one of their chips Lastings Milledge to the nation’s capital for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider, is it worth sacrificing more of the farm and maybe damaging the future? It just might be that it’s worth all that for the Amazin’s as Pedro Martinez enters his last year of his contract.

Just imagine a rotation headlined by Santana with Pedro, John Maine, Oliver Perez and El Duque. Pretty scary, huh?

It’s a lot better to get a younger starter with more left in the tank than take a flier on an overweight Bartolo Colon or aging brother of Duque, Livan Hernandez.

After one big blockbuster deal between the Marlins and Tigers the other night which sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Motown for six prospects including blue chippers Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, there really hasn’t been much activity for baseball fans to get too excited over. 

Unless you’re a fan of blah deals such as 1B Chris Shelton swapped for OF Freddy Guzman between Detroit and Texas or the Cubs sending recently acquired utilityman Omar Infante plus reliever Will Ohman to the Braves for reliever Jose Asciano, there’s really not a whole lot going on in Nashville.

The biggest news of the day happened in the wee hours of the morning as former Atlanta Brave center fielder Andruw Jones reached a preliminary agreement to sign with the Dodgers for two years worth $36.2 million.

Analysis: The 30 year-old Jones is coming off his worst year in the majors where he hit just .222 with 26 home runs and 94 RBI’s in 154 games. It’s worth noting that in 2004, he had a similar season finishing at .261 with 29 dingers and 91 knocked in before recovering to smash 92 homers and 257 RBI’s in 2005 and ‘06. Proof that he can comeback from a bad season.

The question going into 2008 is is the slugger in decline or can new hitting coach Don Mattingly correct the issues Jones had? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the mean time, it looks like Juan Pierre could be available with Jones set to replace the speedy outfielder in center. Last year, the ex-Marlin signed a five-year $45 million contract. As usual, the former 2003 World Series champion played in all 162 games hitting .293 with no homers, 41 RBI’s and a club-leading 64 stolen bases (one shy of career best with Marlins in ‘03) out of the leadoff spot.

The knock on the 30 year-old slap hitter who finished with eight triples is that he doesn’t get on base (.330 OBP, 33 walks) enough to justify his contract. Especially when one considers that he doesn’t hit for power. Earlier in his career, he hit for a higher average and had an OBP around .370 which is much better.

If he was still hitting over .300, that wouldn’t be bad considering that Pierre doesn’t strikeout much either (37 K’s).

In 2007, his extra base hits slipped from 48 in Chicago to 32. This also could’ve been a product of playing in a different ballpark. Wrigley is more gap oriented than Dodger Stadium.

It’s still possible that Pierre could remain in Dodger blue and get time in left with Andre Ethier. But the thinking here is that Ned Colletti will try to move Pierre with Jones in center. Unless he’s able to acquire lefty ace Erik Bedard from Baltimore for Matt Kemp and another prospect, Pierre will probably be gone.

This is an oldie but a goodie from one of my all-time favorite rock bands. I was lucky enough to score tickets to see The Police in concert at an electric capacity Madison Square Garden this past August.

And let me tell you it was worth every penny!

Copeland, Summers and Sting ripped it up lighting up the night.

Here’s “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.” 

We all have fantasized it! :) 

While the Yanks (Hank Steinbrenner) say they’re out of the Johan Santana sweepstakes due to Monday’s deadline passing as The Winter Meetings in Nashville got underway, the Tigers made a big splash earlier today by completing a six-player blockbuster trade.

They acquired All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera and lefty starter Dontrelle Willis for a package which included top prospects Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller. Also included were three minor league pitchers plus catcher Mike Rabelo.

Maybin and Miller were the Tigers’ two best prospects who each saw time with the big club this past season. Now they’ll head down to southern Florida in the latest Marlins’ rebuilding project which still includes star shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Analysis: The Tigers just became a lot better for the present in adding Manny Ramirez Lite in the 24 year-old Cabrera. They’ll hope for improvement from the 25 year-old Willis who struggled mightily winning just 10 games while walking 87, allowing 241 hits in 205-plus for a sub-5.00 ERA. If the former 2003 NL Rookie of The Year can get back to his 2005 form which saw him win 22 games and finish second for the NL Cy Young, then Detroit’s staff could be scary. Especially with ace Justin Verlander anchoring it along with Jeremy Bonderman and crafty veteran southpaw Kenny Rogers back.

The Tigers also acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria from Atlanta earlier this offseason which will give them yet another offensive component and a defensive upgrade in the middle infield which allows Carlos Guillen to shift to first. They also picked up OF Jacques Jones from the Cubs.

Would you want to pitch to this lineup? Looks like the Indians will have some pretty stiff competition in 2008 for the division.

Rumors:

A.With the Yanks looking out of the bidding for Santana due to the Twins’ insistence on top CF prospect Austin Jackson, it’s looking more and more like the Red Sox could land the soon to be 29 year-old two-time AL Cy Young winner for a package of four players including CF Coco Crisp, SP Jon Lester plus two prospects.

The big question is will the Twins ask for top CF prospect Jacoby Ellsbury instead of Lester? Boston won’t part with both. It says here that Ellsbury isn’t going anywhere and the Sahx will pull off a heist if this deal goes through. Those couple of prospects better turn out to be good.

B.According to an earlier WFAN report during Mike and The Mad Dog, the Dodgers and Orioles could be close to working out a deal for Baltimore ace lefty Erik Bedard. If LA is still willing to part with relief specialist Jonathan Broxton and OF prospect Matt Kemp, the 28 year-old Canadian who went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA while K-ing 221 in 182.0 innings could be Hollywood bound.

C.Oakland ace Dan Haren could still be on the block. A couple of years younger than Santana and a more affordable option, could the Yanks go after him? You have to figure the Mets are hoping to land the 27 year-old former St. Louis 2001 second round pick who was moved as part of a deal for Mark Mulder three winters ago.

Haren has started 34 games each in his three seasons by the Bay winning 14, 14 and 15 games. This past year, he went 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA while fanning 192 in 222-plus innings.