Month: July 2009 (Page 7 of 59)

      Phillies on the verge of acquiring Cliff Lee?

      July 29, 2009 /

      According to a report by ESPN.com, a deal between the Phillies and Indians involving ace Cliff Lee is “heating up.”

      According to sources who have spoken with officials of both clubs, they’ve discussed a variety of packages for Lee. One potential package is believed to include Carrasco, a top position-player prospect yet to be determined and two hard-throwing Class A pitchers, Jason Knapp and Trevor May.

      Asked if he believed the Phillies could make a trade for Lee without including Kyle Drabek, whom Toronto has insisted upon in any deal for Halladay, one source replied: “If they were going to [trade] Drabek, they might as well do the deal for Halladay.”

      Phillies officials have continued to tell other clubs they believe they can make a deal for Lee without giving up either their top pitching prospect, Drabek, or their top position-player prospect, outfielder Dominic Brown.

      I couldn’t see the Tribe giving up Lee (whose contract is manageable through 2010) without getting back Drabek in return. But if Philadelphia could swing a deal for Lee that didn’t include Drabek (or Brown for that matter), that would be an impressive feat.

      Lee isn’t Halladay, but there’s no doubt that he would dramatically improve the Phillies’ starting rotation and give them the arms needed to make another run at a World Series. A rotation of Lee, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and either Joe Blanton or Jamie Moyer would be tough to contend with in the NL come playoff time.

      What’s interesting to me is that Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro seemed dead set against trading Lee only a couple weeks ago and now it almost seems certain that the ace will be dealt by Friday. Granted, Shapiro (along with every other MLB GM) was probably just throwing out smokescreens, but the reports seemed genuine that Lee wasn’t going to be moved this year.

      Update: The Phillies have made an official offer for Lee according to FOXSports.com. Apparently the deal on the table is for single-A right-hander Jason Knapp, Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson. Your move, Tribe…

      MLB

      Is the Big Unit’s career finished?

      July 29, 2009 /

      According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants’ starter Randy Johnson has been diagnosed with a slightly torn left rotator cuff.

      Johnson suffered the injury a couple of weeks ago during an at bat. He swung wildly at a Roy Oswalt pitch and was in obvious discomfort while he clutched his shoulder. He attempted to go out the next inning to pitch, but couldn’t stay in as the pain increased.

      He was supposed to begin a throwing program with the Giants soon, but now he’s been ordered to rest for three weeks and might not return at all this season. At 45 years old, this could spell the end of the Big Unit’s career.

      If it is the end, what an ending it was. Earlier this season, Johnson became the fourth 300-game winner this decade and amassed 4,867 strikeouts over his phenomenal career. He also has racked up 100 complete games, compiled a 3.28 ERA and would finish with an amazing record of 303-165.

      Even though his chances of returning this season (and next for that matter) look bleak, I don’t want this to be it for the Big Unit. I would love to see him in the postseason just one more time and get a chance to win another World Series. He’s a true student of the game and he’s the ultimate competitor.

      But if he doesn’t, Johnson has nothing left to prove to anyone.

      MLB

      Report: Favre to continue working out

      July 29, 2009 /

      The NFL Network’s Scott Hanson is reporting that Brett Favre will continue to throw and work out, despite telling Vikings head coach Brad Childress that he wants to stay retired and not play in 2009.

      Via Rotoworld:

      You’ve got to be kidding. Favre reportedly said he’s still not totally sure about whether he’ll stay retired or try to play, even after “confirming” he’d re-re-retire to Childress and in an ESPN interview. Asked by Steve Mariucci how he’d feel about his decision on Wednesday morning, Favre replied “I’m wondering that myself.” It wouldn’t shock us one bit if Favre “gets the itch” again and tries to come back late in camp or even after the season kicks off.

      If I’m Childress and Favre calls me in a week saying that he’s ready to come back, I tell him to piss off.

      Brett will always be a NFL legend for what he did in Green Bay and I, as well as many other football fans, will always admire how he played the game with such passion, reckless abandon and determination. The guy was flat out fun to watch.

      That said, news of him being unsure about his decision to stay retired shouldn’t surprise anyone. Favre is more indecisive than a 15-year-old girl at the mall and I wouldn’t be shocked if he changed his mind once every day until the start of the season.

      He’s just flat out incapable of making a decision without changing his mind 14 times.

      NFL

      Jaguars to pursue Michael Vick?

      July 29, 2009 /

      Sam Farmer of the LA Times writes on his Twitter page that the possibility of free agent quarterback Michael Vick signing with the Jaguars “is looking more and more real.”

      While I question how a writer from the LA Times would know that Vick could sign with the Jaguars (it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to think Farmer has a contact in Jax, I guess) Jacksonville does make sense as a possible landing spot for the criminal. (Too harsh? No? Okay.)

      There were rumors around draft time that the Jags would take a quarterback with the No. 8 pick in the first round, but instead decided to upgrade their offensive line when Eugene Monroe fell to them at that spot. Some pundits believe that David Garrard’s time is running out in Jacksonville, although he was hardly to blame for the injuries that ransacked the offensive line last year and completely hindered the Jags’ offensive success.

      Still, a little competition never hurt anybody and Garrard’s backup is 37-year-old journeyman Todd Bouman, so maybe Vick is a great fit for the Jags. (Although it should be noted that Jacksonville’s beat writer Michael C. Wright reports that Vick’s name hasn’t come up once during meetings between him and team brass.)

      In other Vick news, the Redskins, Seahawks, Bengals, Bills, 49ers and Rams have already stated that they’re not interested in the free agent QB.

      NFL

      Jim Johnson passes away at 68

      July 28, 2009 /

      In sad NFL news, former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer and passed away on Tuesday at age 68.

      Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.

      A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for complex schemes that confused opponents and pressured the quarterback from every angle. His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the league, including last season, when the Eagles finished third in total defense and fell one victory short of the Super Bowl.

      “What haven’t I learned from Jim?” (Sean) McDermott said. “I don’t think it would be fair to Jim, in this setting, to try and limit in one statement, one press conference, the effect that Jim has had on my life.”

      McDermott paid Johnson the ultimate compliment in describing the style of defense he wanted the Eagles to play: Johnson’s style.

      “There is one thing I know, and that is that this system, it works,” McDermott said. “Jim has spent a considerable amount of time in his coaching career researching and finding things that work and finding things that didn’t work, quite frankly, and I’m going to respect that and we’re going to build on that. From there, we’ll add wrinkles.”

      Johnson was simply one of the best. He’s attacking style was highly productive and at least from this NFL fan’s point of view, incredibly fun to watch. He helped the Eagles win five division titles and between 2000 and 2008, his units ranked second in the league in sacks with 390.

      The NFL, the Eagles and us fans are going to miss you, Jim. RIP.

      NFL

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