Category: MLB (Page 89 of 448)

      Report: Yankees on the verge of acquiring Lance Berkman

      July 30, 2010 /
      Lance Berkman (17) April 28th, 2010; Cincinnati Reds vs The Houston Astro's in Minute Maid Park, Houston Texas. The Astro's lost 6-4.

      While an official announcement isn’t expected to come until Saturday afternoon, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the Yankees are on the verge of acquiring first baseman Lance Berkman from the Astros. (Joel Sherman of the New York Post posted the same report on his Twitter page.)

      With Mark Teixeira entrenched at first base, Berkman would become the Yankees’ new DH for the stretch run. He would still have 24 hours to cancel any deal because he has a full no-trade clause in his contract, but one would assume that he would waive it in order to join a contender for the final two months of the season.

      It’s unclear at this point what the Yankees would have to give up in a deal for Berkman, although prospects David Adams and Ivan Nova have each been mentioned in other trade scenarios. (Adams’ name was mentioned in the Cliff Lee deal before talks with the Mariners broke down.)

      One interesting thing to note is that Alyson Footer, who is the Astros’ Sr. Director of Social Media, writes via Twitter that Berkman does not want the new team to pick up his $15 million option for 2011. It would appear as though he wants to return to the Astros next season.

      Update: Sherman now says the deal is completed – Berkman is a Yankee.

      External Sports, MLB

      Astros trade Roy Oswalt to Phillies for J.A. Happ, two prospects

      July 29, 2010 /
      July 18, 2010 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America - 18 July 2010: Houston Astros starting pitcher Roy Oswalt (44) delivers a pitch to the plate during the National League game between the Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates Paul Maholm.

      According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Astros have traded starter Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for J.A. Happ, and prospects Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar. Oswalt had to waive his no-trade clause in order for the deal to go through, which he obviously did. (Or else, you know, there wouldn’t be a story.)

      Here are some details for the y.o.u.:

      The Astros also agreed to pay $11 million of the more than $23 remaining on Oswalt’s contract, which runs through 2011, so the Phillies will owe him about $12 million for a season plus two months. They also can exercise their end of a mutual option in an effort to keep Oswalt for 2012.

      Some teams were reluctant to pursue Oswalt, who turns 33 on Aug. 29, in this trade market due to injury concerns. He has been on the disabled list three times since ‘06 with back or hip issues, including each of the past two seasons.

      As Rosenthal points out, exactly one year ago, the Phillies traded for Cliff Lee and they went on to appear in their second World Series in two years. Will they strike magic two years in a row? Tough to say. They were six games above the Marlins in the NL East at this date last year and now they’re chasing the Braves by three.

      That said, a three-game deficit is nothing with a starting rotation that features Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. The key is whether or not the offense will come around, which it looks like it may.

      Oswalt is having his worst career as a pro record-wise at 6-12, but he’s pitched better than the numbers suggest. He should be re-energized by re-joining the pennant race and should be a welcome addition to the Phillies’ rotation. It’s time for him to step up now, though.

      External Sports, MLB

      Stephen Strasburg placed on DL. That can only mean that his, his kids’, and his kids’ kids’ careers are over with now.

      July 29, 2010 /
      Washington National's starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg delivers a pitch to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of play in their MLB National League baseball game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 21, 2010. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Nationals had to place starter Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 22) with right shoulder stiffness according to MLB.com. Apparently the young phenom was having trouble getting loose before his scheduled start against the Braves on Tuesday and thus, the Nats decided to scratch him from the game and then place him on the DL.

      Like a shark smelling blood in the water, when an injury like this happens to a young pitcher, someone in baseball always takes the opportunity to predict future problems for the player. That someone in this instance is White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who told MLB Network Radio on Thursday morning that Strasburg’s arm action could result in future injuries.

      From the New York Post:

      “I am not wishing this guy bad, but for him to be having problems right now when they are really, really watching him what are they going to see when they are trying to get 220 innings from him? He does something with his arm action that is difficult, in my mind, to pitch a whole lot of innings on.”

      “It reminds me a little bit of Kerry Wood, a little bit of Mark Prior. I hope I’m wrong about this,” said Cooper, whose White Sox were held to one run over seven innings by Strasburg in his third major-league start. “When you throw with the kind of talent and force that he can throw, you can break easier than let’s say a Mark Buehrle type.”

      Wow, a prediction of future complications and references to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior? You went all out, Don.

      Cooper has probably forgotten more about pitching than I’ll ever know and he’s just sharing his opinion, but all of this seems a little too convenient for me. Strasburg hasn’t even been on the DL for over 24 hours and Cooper is already making national statements that he could have future problems. Shouldn’t we hold off first?

      Maybe Cooper will inevitably be proven right, but we have to wait and see. Just because Strasburg is having arm problems now doesn’t mean that he’s going to have the same issues in the future, nor does it mean that this injury is a prelude to a bigger problem. We just don’t know.

      The key is that the Nationals are taking the situation seriously and are proceeding with caution. Strasburg is a massive part of their future and they’re going about this injury the right way. They need to protect their investment and considering they’re not playing for a pennant right now, it makes sense that they would put him on the DL instead of taking any chances.

      External Sports, MLB

      Phillies have deal in place for Roy Oswalt

      July 29, 2010 /
      08 Mar 2002 : Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros during the Spring Training Game against the Kansas City Royals in Haines City, Florida. The Astros won 11-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

      Did you think the Phillies were just going to lie back and let the Braves take the NL East from them? You did? Well then you, my friend, were wrong. Dead wrong.

      According to FOX 26 in Houston, the Phillies have a deal in place for Astros’ starter Roy Oswalt and are waiting for the pitcher to sign off on it. He needs to waive his no-trade clause before any deal goes through, but unless he really, really likes the Beer Can House (it’s made of cans! Cans, I tell ya!), then there’s little doubt that Oswalt is on his way out of Houston.

      Apparently the two sides have agreed on the amount of money that the Astros will take back in the deal and the two teams have agreed on the players that the Phillies will have to give up. Who those players are nobody knows, but J.A. Happ is probably one of them.

      Speaking of Happ, it was rumored yesterday that he may have been involved in a deal that would have sent him to the Cubs in exchange for Ted Lilly. But obviously if the Phillies acquire Oswalt, Lilly would be dropped from Philly’s plans like a (insert clichéd line here).

      More on this story as it develops.

      External Sports, MLB, Rumors & Gossip

      Fan wearing a LeBron Heat jersey escorted out of Cleveland ballpark

      July 29, 2010 /
      Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James of the Miami Heat attend a welcoming party at the American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010 in Miami, FL (Photo by Jeff Daly / Meet The Famous) Photo via Newscom

      I’ve heard the adage that sport often emulates life and for the most part, I agree with that statement. The lessons you learn on the gridiron, the diamond, the ice or the court about leadership, commitment and work ethic can often be applied to your everyday life and I for one, always encourage kids to get involved in sports.

      But at some point, people need a reality check. I can get just as loud or angry as the next fan (especially at Giants’ GM Brian Sabean) when sports are involved, but at some point I realize that I’m being obnoxious and I remember that it’s just a game.

      Maybe some of the fans in Cleveland that are taking this LeBron James-to-Miami situation to heart should do the same thing.

      From ESPN.com:

      A fan wearing a Miami Heat jersey of LeBron James drew the ire of the crowd at a Cleveland Indians game and was escorted out of the ballpark.

      Fans in the left-field bleachers chanted obscenities and pointed at the man Wednesday night during the sixth inning of the game between the Indians and New York Yankees.

      Hundreds of fans joined in before security led the man out of Progressive Field.

      As he left, some fans followed him toward the gate with more derisive chants. Various media reports indicated he was with a female companion, and that fans also threw debris at them.

      Look, I thought “The Decision” announcement was just as absurd as the next person. (I’ll say the same for that scene in the photo at the top of this post.) But in the end, LeBron’s contract ran up and he decided to sign with another team. It was within his right to play for the Heat, the Knicks or Jackie Moon’s Flint Tropics if he wanted. That’s it – it’s over. Move on. How does a million dollar athlete signing with another team really affect you? I mean, really, really affect your everyday life? Think about that for a second.

      To hurl obscenities and other objects at a young couple for wearing a LeBron Heat jersey is just immature. Granted, the guy was probably looking for attention or to cause a stir, but it should have never come to him having to be escorted out of the stadium. A good ribbing would have been more than appropriate.

      When will people grow up?

      External Sports, MLB, NBA

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