Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1232 of 1503)

11 MLB players that should be traded

EPIC CARNIVAL dishes out the top 11 players that should be traded by their respective MLB teams.

9. Ken Griffey Jr, OF, Cincinatti Reds. It’s Fire Sale Time in Cincy, with everything but the youngest SPs wearing a red tag. Griff has hit his 600th, so there’s no more attendance boost to get from him being around. With the team 13.5 games back, he’s a prime target to go to any team that thinks he’ll be rejuvenated by a pennant race. The only problem is that his .760 OPS might convince many that he’s already done.

6. Matt Holliday, OF, Colorado Rockies. The biggest hitter on the list is kind of like this year’s Mark Teixeria — a plus hitter from a hitter haven who’s actually still really good. The only thing keeping him in Colorado is the plummeting Diamnondbacks, who have kept every team in the division in the hunt; the Rockies might just hang on to everyone and see if the return of Troy Tulowitzki can get them back in the race. In another week or so, we’ll know if Holliday walks before his contract expires.

1. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland Indians. Don’t let the slow start fool you; he’s been very solid recently, and he’s an unrestricted free agent next year. With the Tribe 6.5 out and in fourth place in the Central, they are 1-2 weeks away from pulling the chutes on this deal and moving the big lefty for maximum benefit. Ceec is a horse, but he also eats like one, and that next contract is going to be costly.

If I’m making a semi-bold prediction right now, I say Sabathia winds up in a Cubs uniform before the season is over. I could see the front office in Chicago doing whatever they had to ensure that they make a World Series appearance this year and Sabathia might dominate NL hitters. I’d also like to see Griffey land on a contender and it’ll be interesting to see what the Rocks do with Holliday with his contract expiring.

Wednesday Morning Headliners: Bucs pound Yanks

– The Pirates crushed Darrell Rasner and the Yankees 12-5 on Tuesday, scoring runs in every inning except two. Jose Bautista and Ryan Doumit each homered for the Bucs.

– The Red Sox-Diamondback series has been outstanding thus far as Boston evened things up yesterday with a 5-4 win. Dustin Pedroia hit his seventh dinger of the year and Jonathan Papelbon earned his 22nd save.

– A.J. Burnett pitched eight innings of four-hit ball and also struck out seven in the Jays’ 14-1 dismantling of the Reds. Alex Rios went 4 for 6 with a homer, a RBI and three runs scored.

– The Cubs lost a rare home game, falling 7-5 to the Orioles. It was Baltimore’s first trip to Wrigley and the O’s got the win despite both Jim Edmonds and Kosuke Fukudome both leaving the yard.

Schein: Jason Taylor needs to become a Packer

Along with nine other NFL moves he’d like to see happen, Adam Schein of FOX Sports.com writes that the Dolphins need to ship Jason Taylor north to Green Bay.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a report last week that the Packers are kicking the tires on a deal for the disgruntled Dolphin star. Two members of the Packers’ defensive staff have experience coaching Taylor. Plus, Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson has a great relationship with Miami’s football Czar, Bill Parcells.

Frankly, it makes too much sense.

I firmly believe that Taylor has played his last down in Miami. He has no interest in working for the new regime.
The Packers shouldn’t worry about Taylor talking his way out of Miami, even though it’s been a major turnoff and big distraction to the Fins. He’s always had the reputation of being a hard worker and team leader. Wanting to finally get a ring, Taylor won’t be a headache for Mike McCarthy.

Taylor is still an elite pass rusher with at least two good years left in the tank. A line of Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins, Justin Harrell and Taylor would be one of the best defensive fronts in the entire league.

Plus, Green Bay, while situated in a tiny market, is a marquee franchise. The Packers are constantly on national television. While Miami and Green Bay are complete opposite cities with vastly different climates, playing for the Packers will help Taylor with his desired “Q” rating as he moves into acting and dancing fulltime.

I think Taylor will play two more years, including 2008. If Thompson can get insurances from Taylor that he’ll play past this year, I’d give up a second-round pick for a player that will help you win games on defense in the post Brett Favre era and solidify you as division favorites and a Super Bowl contender.

The Palm Beach Post wrote over the weekend that the Taylor-to-Green Bay talks have fizzled for now. Packers’ GM Ted Thompson is too smart to overvalue a 33-year old defensive end that has publicly stated he wants out of his current situation. And the Dolphins are rumored to want nothing less than a second round pick in exchange for Taylor.

This just doesn’t seem like a deal that’s going to get done unless Miami tones down its demands.

Arrest made in Walker case

Las Vegas police have made an arrest in a robbery and assault case involving Raiders’ wide receiver Javon Walker.

Lt. Clinton Nichols said Tuesday that 30-year-old Arfat Fadel is suspected of multiple felonies including kidnapping and robbery. Police said Fadel was arrested Friday and police were looking for a second suspect.

Nichols said police believe the second man is still in Las Vegas.

He said the 29-year-old Walker got into a vehicle with the two men early June 16 before he was found beaten and unconscious on a side street near the Las Vegas Strip.

Walker told police $3,000 in cash and about $100,000 in jewelry were taken.

This story makes a little more sense than Walker claiming he was just chillin’ in his hotel room and bunch of guys came, beat the crap out of him and left him unconscious on some street. I don’t get why Walker lied, though. He was going to be the victim of the story no matter what, so why lie about being dragged out of his hotel room? Because he didn’t want to look like the fool that got into a car with a couple of guys that robbed him and served him up the beating of a lifetime? Strange story.

New radio show, same controversial Imus

Fired last year by CBS for referring to the Rutgers women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos,” Don Imus once again took a trip down racially controversial lane on his new radio show when he spoke about Adam “Pacman” Jones changing his name.

When told by the program’s sportscaster, Warner Wolf, that Mr. Jones no longer wished to be called by his nickname, Pacman, so that people might forget his record of multiple arrests, Mr. Imus asked, “What color is he?”

“He’s African-American,” Mr. Wolf responded.

“Well, there you go,” Mr. Imus said. “Now we know.”

Mr. Imus’s comment was soon picked up on several Web sites, including Politico.com and Deadspin.com, a sports site, as well as the America Online home page.

Asked in an e-mail message what he had intended by his remark, Mr. Imus wrote, “I meant he was being picked on because he’s black.” He added that the veteran black comedian and activist Dick Gregory would be a guest on his show on Tuesday, to discuss the death of George Carlin.

“We’ll see what he thinks,” Mr. Imus wrote. “I mean … come on!”

If he really meant that Pacman was being picked on because he’s black, then he should have said that. I’m not saying every member of the media should have to clarify what they say, but Imus does. He just went through all of this; he knows how sensitive the public can be. Fair or not, Imus is already walking on thin ice and it would have been wise to take the time to clarify what he meant.

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