Month: July 2010 (Page 32 of 62)
Check out this video from a fanfest that was set up at the 2010 MLB All-Star Game for people who paid a $25 admission. The idea was for fans to walk around and meet Hall of Famers, as well as get their autographs.
But apparently former Met Gary Carter threw a wrench in the works by claiming that he was only going to sign a white piece of paper. One fan (who was attending the event with his son and young brother) videotaped his experience with Carter, which, uh, didn’t end well.
More times then not, these fanfests aren’t what they’re advertised. Whoever puts them on draws people in with the promise of autographs from players, but what usually happens is you stand in line for hours hoping that the athlete doesn’t get up and walk out before you’ve reached the stage that they’re signing on. And if you’re lucky enough to meet the athlete, some of them (like Carter) have restrictions on what they’ve sign because of endorsement deals or because they’re total ass hats.
But while Carter doesn’t come off looking good here, the man who taped the video reeks of douche-baggery, too. He clearly was looking for a clip to put on YouTube and once he heard about Carter’s autograph rules, he used the kids as bait to cause a scene. I’m sure Carter deserves the negative attention (this probably wasn’t the first time he’s stiffed fans for autographs), but the owner of the video doesn’t escape ridicule in this situation after he manipulated the situation.
Pretty soon fans aren’t going to be able to take video cameras into these events because of morons like this who are just looking for attention.
I know Yunel Escobar is a maddening player, but is Alex Gonzalez and two minor leagues the only thing the Braves got in return for him? Holy smokes.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Braves have dealt Escobar and minor-league pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to the Blue Jays in exchange for Gonzalez, minor-league pitcher Tim Collins and minor-league shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.
Escobar entered the All-Star break hitting just .238 with no home runs and 19 RBI, while Gonzalez is currently hitting .259 with 17 dingers and 50 RBI. Obviously Gonzalez’s numbers are better, but at only 27, Escobar still has plenty of potential left in him. He was a worthwhile risk for Toronto, especially if all he needs is a change of scenery to help turn his career around.
There’s no doubt that Escobar has been in and out of Bobby Cox’s doghouse over the years, but the Braves sold low here. He has a tremendous glove, has proven in the past that he can hit for average and he’s under team control until 2013. Why the Braves dumped him for a player in Gonzalez (who may be having a great year, but whose career numbers reek) is a little puzzling to say the least.
That said, anything can happen. Collins is tiny (5’7, 155 pounds), but has a 2.40 ERA in parts of four seasons in the minor leagues and is averaging an outstanding 15.3 K/9 over 43 innings. Pastronicky projects to be a leadoff hitter, although not that the Braves have a need for one right now with Martin Prado developing into an All-Star.
There’s also no guarantee that this is a fluke year for Escobar. He may be as bad as he’s shown and in that case, it was better that the Braves got something for him. I don’t retract what I wrote earlier about them selling low, but nobody can predict how a deal will turn out in the end. (Plus, history has shown that once I try and get cute with a title like the one in this post, I get usually get burned. So torch me, Alex Gonzalez – I’m ready.)
Want to read Part 1 first? Click here.
Mavs acquire Tyson Chandler, re-sign Brendan Haywood (6/$55 M).
Dallas missed out on Marcin Gortat last summer and in Chandler/Haywood they have a pretty good two-headed defensive center. If they split time and produce at 09-10 levels, the Mavs will get 14-14 and 2.7 blocks per game. But that production does come at a price. Chandler is in the last year of his deal ($12.6 M) and Haywood’s deal is fairly outrageous for a 30-year-old. The Mavs will need both players to produce if they hope to get past the Lakers’ talented bigs.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas is reportedly signing with the Heat. (2/vet’s min)
It’s not clear how much ‘Big Z’ has left in the tank, but at the veteran’s minimum, it doesn’t have to be much. The Heat just need Ilgauskas to play 15-20 minutes, protect the glass and hit his patented set shot. Veterans appear to be lining up to play with the Super Friends.
Kyle Lowry signs with the Cavs. (4/$24 M)
Byron Scott said he wants the Cavs to push the ball more and Lowry is a talented point guard who hasn’t had a chance to start, but has been productive in major roles for Houston and Memphis in his young career. Whether or not he starts for the Cavs remains to be seen. Mo Williams is still there and was an All-Star just two seasons ago. Also, Lowry is restricted and the Rockets have a week to match the Cavs’ offer. Update: It looks like the Rockets are going to match the offer. Daryl Morey always seems to get something for his assets, so maybe the two teams will make a trade.
Steve Blake signs with the Lakers. (4/$16 M)
Blake should be a nice fit in the Lakers’ triangle offense. He lacks the speed to beat guys off the dribble, but he’s a good passer (4.8 apg) and a solid spot up shooter (39% 3PT), two requirements to play alongside Kobe in L.A. With Jordan Farmar on the way out, Blake and Derek Fisher will likely split time at the point.
Tony Allen signs with the Grizzlies. (3/$10 M)
Jeff Van Gundy called Allen the best perimeter defender in the league, and the C’s curiously let him sign elsewhere for around $3 million a season. He is a very good defender. I watched him cover LeBron James, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant in consecutive playoff series and he didn’t give up very many easy shots. Why Boston would let him go is beyond me.
The cat is out of the bag in terms of what Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin wants in return for All-Star Corey Hart.
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Melvin asked Giants’ GM Brian Sabean for either Jonathan Sanchez or Madison Bumgarner in exchange for Hart, although Sabean is reluctant to trade either pitcher.
Melvin can crap in one hand and wish for Bumgarner (who was the Giants’ second best prospect behind Buster Posey entering the season) in the other and see which one fills up quicker. Melvin isn’t getting Bumgarner unless he plans on renting one of those creepy old vans with no back windows and stealing him in the middle of the night. I also find it disturbing that he asked for Sanchez, who is a promising but erratic 27-year-old lefty, or Bumgarner, who is a 20-year-old potential phenom in the making. I can only imagine how Melvin phrased his demands to Sabean.
“I’ll take Sanchez for Hart…………or, if you’d rather do this, I guess I’ll take Bumgarner off your hands, but you’re really holding me over the coals here, man.”
Acquiring Sanchez is more realistic, but why would the Brewers want a less talented Manny Parra? And why would the Giants want to acquire the next Aaron Rowand (there’s zero doubt that Hart’s numbers will drop going from Miller Park to AT&T Park) all while inserting the ultra-brutal Todd Wellemeyer back into the rotation? That doesn’t make sense seeing as how Barry Zito and Matt Cain were struggling before the All-Star Break.
On the surface, a Hart for Sanchez swap makes sense. The Brewers have hitting but need pitching, while the Giants have pitching but need hitting. But it seems like both teams would be taking a step sideways if a deal like this went down, so it probably makes sense for them to seek other trade partners.
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