Category: MLB (Page 97 of 448)

      Well done, baseball fans

      July 9, 2010 /
      Colorado Rockies second baseman Eric Young, Jr. dives back to first base with the pick off throw going to Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto at Coors Field in Denver on September 10, 2009. Young stole two bases with two base hits against the Reds. Colorado swept Cincinnati 5-1 in the series finale. UPI/Gary C. Caskey... Photo via Newscom

      While fans are often criticized (and deservedly so) for making the MLB All-Star Game a popularity contest when it comes to voting, they got it right on Thursday when they selected the Reds’ Joey Votto to be the final representative for the National League at this year’s Midsummer Classic.

      From SI.com:

      Votto earned the 34th and final spot on the National League roster by beating out Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Atlanta closer Billy Wagner. Padres reliever Heath Bell was a candidate before being chosen as an injury replacement on the NL squad.

      “I would say I’m relieved,” Votto said. “I’m really glad this whole thing is over with. It was kind of taxing on me. I’m excited and I really, really appreciate the fans and their support.”

      Cincinnati players campaigned for their teammate, donning “Vote Votto” red T-shirts during batting practice Wednesday before their game against the New York Mets.

      “I just really appreciate the accomplishment. I’m going to take it in,” Votto added. “It means a lot to me. I’ve always wanted to be an All-Star.”

      Votto hit his 22nd homer early in Thursday night’s game against Philadelphia. He began the day batting .313 and leading the NL in homers, slugging percentage (.588) and on-base percentage (.417).

      As I wrote earlier this week, I’m well aware that Votto plays in the same league as Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Adrian Gonzalez. But that doesn’t change the fact that he has better numbers than all three of those stars and deserved to play in the ASG this year. It would have been a sports tragedy if he weren’t selected.

      Outside of Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies, one could make the argument that no player in the National League has meant more to their team in the first half then Votto. Collectively, the Reds have played good baseball this year, but it’s mainly because of Votto that they’re currently three games ahead of the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.

      Hopefully Votto will have a couple of good at bats and show a national audience what Cincinnati fans already know: that the 26-year-old first baseman can play.

      Oh, and Nick Swisher of the Yankees was the fans’ vote in the American League, which is also a well-deserved honor. (Even though he basically politicked for his votes.)

      External Sports, MLB

      Yankees on the verge of trading for Cliff Lee?

      July 9, 2010 /
      New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman stands for the National Anthem during the Yankees World Series victory celebration on the steps of City Hall in New York on November 6, 2009. UPI/Michael Appleton/Pool Photo via Newscom

      According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees are on the brink of trading for Mariners’ ace Cliff Lee.

      Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik have been in constant contact over the last week, but it was only last night that the Seattle GM told Yankee officials he wanted to move quickly, possibly before the All-Star break.

      The Yanks were not assured of obtaining Lee since other clubs such as the Mets, Twins and Rangers were in talks. But the Yanks were definitely making the strongest move last night, coming from seeming disinterest into the clear front-runner and last night it seemed they were all but certain to obtain the 31-year-old lefty.

      In an odd twist, Lee is scheduled to pitch against the Yankees tonight in Seattle. Lee is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA and an amazing 89 strikeouts to just six walks. He beat the Yankees twice in the World Series last year, the only two games the Yankees lost in the Fall Classic.

      This would be a surprising but predictable outcome. For the past month, the Rangers, Mets and Twins were the clubs that were centered on trading for Lee. But of course, seemingly out of nowhere, Brian Cashman swoops in and nabs another stud for his all-star roster. (Lee, Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett and Vazquez? Dear, Barbara…)

      If this deal goes down, the collective heads of Yankee haters are going to explode. “Typical Yankees” they’ll say. But keep in mind that this would be a trade; the Mariners can deal with whichever team they want and if they decide that it’s the Yankees, then you can’t blame Cashman for wanting to make a deal. Yes, the Bombers have a sizeable advantage when it comes to signing and retaining free agents. But when it comes to trades they have as much to lose as anyone seeing as how they’re giving up more than money in a deal. It’s up to Zduriencik to get fair compensation for Lee and if he were smart, he’d play all of the teams against each other in order to get the best deal possible. (Don’t rule out the possibility that he’s using Cashman and the Yankees to get more out of the Rangers or Mets either.)

      This isn’t a done deal and the Rangers (who were reportedly the front-runners for Lee just yesterday) could still make a play. But history tells us that if Cashman and the Yankees are involved, they’ll probably get their man.

      Typical Yankees.

      External Sports, MLB

      Riots coming in Oakland? Angels warned.

      July 8, 2010 /
      Riot police move anti G8, G20 protestors ahead of them along Queen Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, June 27, 2010. Increased police presence control most key intersections in Downtown Toronto. UPI/Heinz Ruckemann Photo via Newscom

      According to Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com, the Angels were warned by MLB last week about the possibility of riots in Oakland this weekend if a verdict comes down in the case of an officer who is on trial for shooting an unarmed man on a train platform.

      The case, which involves a white officer and a black victim, has sparked racial tensions in the East Bay, so the trial was moved to Los Angeles. Jury deliberations resumed Thursday.

      MLB security phoned Angels traveling secretary Tom Taylor to explain the situation and offer the team extra security. The Angels, who are scheduled to arrive in the Bay Area late Thursday night for a weekend series in Oakland, are staying in a San Francisco hotel and will bus to Oakland Coliseum.

      Johannes Mehserle, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer, is charged with murder for allegedly shooting Oscar Grant III at Oakland’s Fruitvale BART station Jan. 1, 2009.

      Grant, 22, was shot while Mehserle and another officer were trying to handcuff Grant.

      And the Angels thought that trying to catch the Rangers in the AL West was stressful.

      External Sports, MLB

      Brian Sabean, Corey Hart and the art of the “fleece”

      July 8, 2010 /
      July 05, 2010- Milwaukee, WI. Miller Park..Milwaukee Brewers Corey Hart continued his hit streak to 20 games today, Hart had 2 hits including a double off of Giants pitcher Dan Ruzler..Milwaukee Brewers lost to the San Francisco Giants 1-6..Mike McGinnis / CSM.

      There’s no way Brian Sabean will overpay for Corey Hart.

      Brian Sabean won’t overpay to get Corey Hart, will he?

      Oh God, Brian Sabean is going to overpay for Corey Hart, isn’t he?

      If the Giants’ GM has taught us anything over the years, it’s that he’ll sell his wife, kids and soul just to get the player he covets. See Edgardo Alfonzo, whom he overpaid for in 2003 despite the third baseman’s well documented back troubles. See A.J. Pierzynski, whom he inexplicably acquired from the Twins in exchange for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser because the Giants needed a catcher. See Barry Zito, whom he gave a $126 million contract to after outbidding himself.

      For as great of a job as Sabean has done building one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, he’s done an equally horrendous job developing position players (Buster Posey being the exception, of course). Because he wasted years signing past-their-prime veterans instead of building through the draft, Sabean has had to overpay when it comes to free agents and trades. So when I read that the Giants are interested in Corey Hart, my palms and forehead get sweaty and the room starts spinning.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, MLB

      Rangers turning up the heat for Cliff Lee?

      July 8, 2010 /
      July 04, 2010 - Detroit, MI, UNITED STATES - epa02236804 Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Cliff Lee trows against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, USA on 04 July 2010.

      MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that talks between the Rangers and Mariners are heating up for pitcher Cliff Lee, although nothing is imminent at this point and there is still plenty of time before the July 31 trade deadline.

      The Rangers have been actively looking for a front-line starting pitcher, they have made no secret that Lee is their top priority and they have the Minor League prospects to get him here. As far as talent in the farm system, the Rangers openly believe they are in far better position to acquire a major piece before the Trade Deadline than most any other team.

      The club is still limited by financial constraints but Daniels admitted last week there is still some flexibility in the budget for the Rangers to do something before the July 31 Trade Deadline. The club has not been involved in the International amateur signing period for Latin American players this month in attempt to hold back final resources for the Trade Deadline.

      There is little doubt that the Rangers have the talent to make the deal. The Mariners are reportedly looking for a big bat for their lineup and the Rangers have both Justin Smoak at the Major League level and Chris Davis at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

      The Rangers are also deep in Minor League pitching although indications are they are not interested in talking about Tanner Scheppers or Martin Perez. But Derek Holland and Blake Beavan could be two names that might interest the Mariners.

      I’ve maintained that Roy Oswalt would be a great fit for the Rangers, although the same hurdles (i.e. Texas’ financial restrictions) still apply. I would have to imagine that Oswalt would come cheaper (in terms of prospects) than Lee, but it’s tough to speculate what the asking price would be for either pitcher.

      Here’s some food for thought when it comes to any deal involving Oswalt: At least one GM has stated that Houston’s Ed Wade is a tad difficult to deal with when it comes to trades. In a recent poll conducted by ESPN’s Buster Onley, it was said that Wade is always willing to talk, “but it seems like he’s never willing to put himself in a position to risk anything.”

      External Sports, MLB

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