Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 103 of 1503)

      Jose Reyes to remain a Met…for now.

      May 5, 2011 /
      New York Mets batter Jose Reyes slides into third base with a triple against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York August 14, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

      Giants fans had to be excited when they woke up on Wednesday to a report from Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area that said their club was interested in acquiring Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes. But they’ll have to temper that excitement for now.

      GM Brian Sabean told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.com that he hasn’t spoken with his Mets’ counterpart Sandy Alderson since January. So as Rubin notes, Reyes may be a fit for San Francisco but a deal won’t be happening anytime soon.

      When Juan Uribe surprised the Giants’ brass last winter by signing with the rival Dodgers, Sabean became desperate to fill the hole at shortstop. So he overpaid (a habit he seems to enjoy) for Miguel Tejada, who signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract in November. It’s only been 30 games but the fans in San Francisco have already grown restless with Tejada’s shoddy play. He’s hitting just .204 with one home run and possesses a dismal .243 on base percentage. What’s worse is that his play in the infield has been just as bad. (His error at third base a few nights ago ruined what had been a great outing from youngster Madison Bumgarner.)

      But while fans may want Reyes in a Giants’ uniform today, the club isn’t going to give up on a $6.5 million offseason investment after only one month. Granted, it’s not the fans or the rest of the team’s fault that Sabean seemingly screwed the pooch by not only signing Tejada, but also overpaying for him as well. But those are the breaks.

      There are other factors to consider as well when it comes to trading for a guy like Reyes, which I outlined in this post yesterday. The bottom line is that Reyes isn’t going anywhere today, next week, or even a month from now. He’s probably going to be in New York until the trade deadline approaches in July. So for now, Giant fans will just have to hope that someone like Mark DeRosa (who has spent more time on the disabled list than on the field since Sabean signed him to a two-year deal last year) can save them from their Tejada misery.

      External Sports, MLB

      Kentucky Derby post positions announced – ArchArchArch draws rail

      May 4, 2011 /
      Kentucky Derby hopeful ArchArchArch is washed down by his grooms after an early morning workout on the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 2, 2011. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT HORSE RACING)

      The post positions for the 2011 Kentucky Derby have been drawn and midrange favorite Archarcharch will start at the rail this Saturday at Churchill Downs.

      Here is the complete list of post positions: No. 1 ArchArchArch; No. 2 Brilliant Speed; No. 3 Twice the Appeal; No. 4 Stay Thirsty; No. 5 Decisive Moment; No. 6 Comma to the Top; No. 7 Pants on Fire; No. 8 Dialed In; No. 9 Derby Kitten; No. 10 Twinspired; No. 11 Master of Houds; No. 12 Santiva; No. 13 Mucho Macho Man; No. 14 Shackleford; No. 15 Midnight Interlude; No. 16 Animal Kingdom; No. 17 Soldat; No. 18 Uncle Mo; No. 19 Nehro; No. 20 Watch Me Go.

      If I’m betting a horse on name alone, I’ve got to go with either Nehro or Stay Thirsty. Nehro just sounds cool and I’m assuming Stay Thirsty is a nod to “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” which is downright spectacular. (And if the name is not meant to pay homage to “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” I don’t want to hear about it. Stay Thirsty, my friends.)

      Of course, if history has taught us anything it’s that Nehro won’t walk away with any roses this weekend. The No. 19 post position has never won the Kentucky Derby, which started in 1900. The same goes for the No. 17 post position, so steer clear of Soldat, too.

      On the flip side, the rail and the No. 5 post have won the most, collecting 12 wins apiece. The No. 4 position has won 11 times, while the No. 8 and No. 10 positions have each been victorious 10 times. Therefore, for those looking to wager on the favorite, Dialed In, his odds just got better seeing as how he’ll come out of the No. 8 gate.

      One horse of note is Twice the Appeal, who will be ridden by jockey Calvin Borel. Borel of course has won the last two Derbys and three of the last four. He rode Super Saver (out of the No. 4 post position) to victory for Todd Pletcher last year.

      I’m as causal a horseracing fan as they come, but I did pretty well with my predictions last year. I had Paddy O’prado to place in the Kentucky Derby (he finished third) and Super Saver listed as one of the horses to “keep your eye on.” In the Preakness, I hit Lookin’ At Lucky for the win and nailed First Dude to finish in the money, which is noteworthy since he was a 20/1 long shot to open. Finally, in the Belmont, I predicted the top three (Drosselmeyer, Fly Down, First Dude) to finish in the money, although not in the correct order.

      With all the luck I had in 2010, methinks you may want to steer clear of me this year as well.

      External Sports, horse racing

      Charlie Sheen donates money to Giants’ fan that was beaten in L.A.

      May 4, 2011 /
      Actor Charlie Sheen gestures towards fans as he arrives for a sentencing hearing at the Pitkin County Courthouse in Aspen, Colorado in this August 2, 2010 file photo. After hearing chants of “Refund! Refund!” and being booed, even Sheen knew his “Violent Torpedo of Truth” had bombed on its debut in Detroit on April 2, 2011. The comedy revue with rapper Dirt Nasty and comedian Kirk Fox, among others, brought catcalls from the audience and not even Sheen’s girlfriend “goddesses” could win fans. The Detroit performance was opening night of 22 shows in 20 U.S. and Canadian cities. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

      Charlie Sheen has received plenty of negative, wild and downright zany (do people still use the word “zany?” Ah, to hell with it – I’m using it anyway…) headlines over the past couple of months. So it’s only fair that when he gives something back to society, the media reports on those storylines as well.

      According to the New York Post, “Wild Thing” Vaughn donated $20,000 to the foundation for Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who was beaten by a couple of thugs in Los Angeles during the opening weekend of the MLB season. Apparently Stow is not responding to stimulation as much as the doctors would like now that he is out of a medically induced coma. Doctors took Stow off the medication that was keeping him in a coma last Tuesday but while he was able to come off it without suffering any seizures, he is still not responding.

      Meanwhile, the two animals that carried out the act are still at large.

      Sheen is the latest to contribute to Stow’s fund. On Sunday, the Giants’ minor league teams in San Jose and Fresno gave $43,362 to Stow’s young children in order to help with the loss of wages, family travel and any medical costs that Stow’s insurance doesn’t pick up. People have been very gracious to the Stow family, who must be touched in what can only be described as a difficult time.

      Sheen is a huge fan of not only baseball, but Giants’ closer Brian Wilson as well. It’s not surprising that Stow’s situation encouraged him to donate and I think it was an extremely nice gesture. (Especially when you consider what else Sheen could have spent the money on…yikes.)

      External Sports, MLB

      NFLPA bracing for full stay of injunction

      May 4, 2011 /
      New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (R) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch (C) arrive for labor negotiations between NFL players and owners with federal mediation in Washington on March 3, 2011. The current collective bargaining agreement expires at midnight tonight and a lockout is possible but not definite if none is reached. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg.

      Via Albert Breer on Twitter, Rotoworld.com is reporting that the NFLPA is “bracing” for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to grant the owners’ request for a stay of Judge Susan Nelson’s lockout injunction.

      Technically, Chad Ochocinco broke the news, citing a union source. What we don’t like about the report is that free agency and trades would be delayed for at least a month. What we do like is that it would give the sides a chance to head back to the mediation table to try to hammer out a new CBA. A stay would wipe out all offseason programs, keeping the doors locked until at least mid-June, if not July or August.

      The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals already granted a temporary stay last week, so the news isn’t terribly surprising. What would be best for fans in the short term is if the stay isn’t granted. That means the league’s doors would open up, free agency would start and we would probably have an uncapped season next year. But that’s obviously not what’s best in the long term.

      What’s best in the long term is that these clowns (I reserve the right to call them that considering they can’t figure out how to split $9 billion of the fans’ money) head back to the negotiating table and hammer out a new CBA. They have to find a compromise here.

      Forget about which side is more right (or less wrong) and let’s see these guys come to an agreement already. The draft breathed some much-needed life into the league last weekend, and here’s hoping free agency will start soon so things can get back on track.

      External Sports, NFL

      Should the Giants acquire Jose Reyes?

      May 4, 2011 /
      New York Mets’ Jose Reyes signs an autograph before their MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida March 12, 2011. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      For those who have had the misfortune of watching Miguel Tejada play on a nightly basis, the answer to the question in the title should roll off the tongue: “Yes. Yes the Giants should acquire Jose Reyes. Please God, in all your holiness, allow the Giants to acquire Jose Reyes so that I don’t have to continue to endure Miguel Tejada.”

      But the question becomes a little more convoluted when you consider the many factors that would go into trading for Reyes. For starters, the Giants would have to accommodate his $11 million salary this year. That may not be a big deal in the short term, but there are rumors that the 27-year-old will be looking to match Carl Crawford’s seven-year, $142 million deal when he hits free agency this winter. Would the Giants be willing to give up a top prospect in order to acquire a rent-a-player for a couple of months? Furthermore, should they?

      The Mets will probably ask but it’s doubtful that the Giants would part with either Madison Bumgarner or Brandon Belt. Either of those players would be too much to give up to acquire a player that New York is looking to dump anyway. The Giants could pitch (pun definitely intended) Jonathan Sanchez in a deal, although that would leave a gapping hole in their pristine rotation. They could probably get by with a starting five of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Bumgarner, Barry Zito and Ryan Volgelsong, but why weaken the pitching staff when the point of acquiring Reyes is to win now?

      The more likely scenario for the Giants is to center a deal around former first rounder Zack Wheeler, who was taken sixth overall in 2009. He is one of the top 55 best prospects in the game and while it would deplete the Giants’ already thin farm system, they could stomach that blow much easier than they could if they dealt someone like Sanchez.

      But again, it all comes back to whether or not the Giants should make a deal like this. Yes, Reyes would be a massive upgrade over Tejada and once Pablo Sandoval returns in 4-6 weeks, their struggling offense would like rather potent. Assuming Reyes stays healthy and continues to hit as well as he has over the first month of the season, he could lift the Giants back into World Series contention. That said, does a team like San Fran make a move like this for a potential rent-a-player? It’s a tough call, although a few more weeks of watching Tejada flail at pitches and try to play ground balls to his side could force the Giants’ hand.

      External Sports, MLB

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