Page 1591 of 2957

      Sports poll: A-Rod not MLB’s best player anymore

      July 14, 2009 /

      Here’s a shock: Alex Rodriguez is not considered baseball’s best player anymore according to a report by the New York Daily News.

      In a random, unscientific survey that included several scouts, executives, players and other observers, none said Rodriguez was still the best player in baseball.

      “When I think of the best player, Pujols’ name stands out,” one scout said, a sentiment echoed by many. Others suggested Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer or Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria.

      But no one said A-Rod was out of the conversation, either. While a few predicted his production would decline, they also said he would remain among the top run producers in baseball. Because of Rodriguez’s admission he used steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas, some said they’ll always wonder what is genuine in A-Rod’s career.

      One major-league scout who has watched Rodriguez extensively this season replied, “Probably so,” when asked if A-Rod’s best days were behind him.

      While players like Mauer and Hanley Ramirez certainly garner attention, Pujols is the best player in baseball. He’s the best pure hitter in the game right now and he puts up out-of-this-world numbers in a lineup that isn’t conducive to do so. He’s the best, period.

      That said, here’s hoping he never breaks our hearts by testing positive for PEDs. I, like many baseball fans, want to continue to believe that what Pujols is doing on the field is 100% legit. As of now, there’s no reason to believe otherwise.

      MLB

      Former MLB bust Bush is a bit of a crier

      July 14, 2009 /

      Remember when the Padres selected Mission Bay High School shortstop Matt Bush with the first overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft? Then he was suspended before he ever took the field because he got into a fight outside an Arizona nightclub? Then San Diego had to move him to pitcher because they realized he hit like Rey Ordonez? Then he tore a ligament in his pitching elbow? Then he got caught for allegedly being involved in a drunken assault on his high school campus? Then he was traded to the Blue Jays, who then released him two months later for violating their zero tolerance behavioral policy?

      Yeah, that guy.

      Well, apparently he cries like a bitch when he gets arrested (in the middle of the day mind you) and charged with drunk driving, resisting arrest and two counts of vandalism:

      This is the same idiot who allegedly threw a baseball at a young woman’s head and banged on her car window because he thought she might have drawn on his face while he was passed out. He’s a real classy kid that Matt Bush.

      MLB, Video

      Jackson to demand trade if Vikings sign Favre?

      July 14, 2009 /

      The NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi is reporting that there’s talk of quarterback Tavaris Jackson possibly demanding a trade if the Vikings sign veteran free agent Brett Favre. The 26-year-old Jackson would probably be low man on the totem pole if Favre signs, considering the team also traded for Sage Rosenfels earlier this offseason.

      Although Jackson is still young and has put up fairly decent numbers thus far in his career, it’s safe to assume that he won’t garner much attention on the trade market. He only has experience in the West Coast offense and he’ll become a free agent at the end of the year, so why would any team give up a draft pick (assuming that that’s what the Vikings would want in return) to acquire him?

      It’s only a matter of time before the Vikings sign Favre and while Minnesota might want to try and deal Jackson to get something in return for the former second round pick, there doesn’t appear to be much of a market for him. The Seahawks could be interested because they run the WCO, but all indications are that Matt Hasselbeck’s back is healthy and backup Seneca Wallace already has starting experience in that offense.

      Another team that could be interested is St. Louis, who currently employs a walking stick figure at quarterback in Marc Bulger. But considering what they’re paying Bulger these days, the Rams are going to try and get everything they can out of him before finally waiving the white flag on that situation.

      The Vikings might inevitably want to hang onto Jackson this season as insurance in case Favre’s arm falls off at some point. I’m sure Brad Childress would sleep a little easier at night knowing he could at least fall back on Jackson and Rosenfels if the Favre experiment backfires.

      NFL

      Mason to retire – will Ravens pursue Marshall or Boldin?

      July 14, 2009 /

      Ravens wideout Derrick Mason made an announcement on JockLife.com (a website owned by his agents) that he is set to retire from pro football.

      Mason is coming off shoulder surgery and never got the pay raise that he had requested earlier this offseason, although he claims that his main motivation for waiting to hang ‘em up is that he just isn’t “emotionally enthused” about playing anymore.

      With Mason retiring, the Ravens are now extremely thin at receiver, with Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams penciled in as the current starters. Considering they’re devoid of playmakers, it’s easy to speculate that the Ravens might pursue one of the two disgruntled receivers in Denver’s Brandon Marshall or Arizona’s Anquan Boldin.

      Even though he would be a definite upgrade over Mason (and any other Baltimore receiver for that matter), the Ravens might not pursue Marshall considering GM Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh are opposed to adding players with character issues. And in the case of Marshall, they wouldn’t just be adding a player with character flaws, but they would also probably have to give up multiple prospects to acquire him (plus millions of dollars for a new contract).

      Boldin has a few years on Marshall, but he obviously has the talent Baltimore is seeking at receiver. But would the Ravens be willing to part with a first round pick to acquire him? Would they also be willing to shell out the $9 or $10 million that he’s seeking?

      Another thing to consider is that Marshall and Boldin might not even be available. Sure, their situations with their respective teams look bleak, but that doesn’t mean the Broncos and Cardinals aren’t hell bent on trying to resolve the issues and keep both players in house. But regardless, Mason’s retirement plans certainly bring up a compelling situation in Baltimore now.

      NFL

      Surprisingly, Orlando matches offer sheet for Gortat

      July 13, 2009 /

      When the Mavs signed backup center Marcin Gortat, it seemed like a done deal that the Magic would let him go. But Orlando elected to match the offer.

      The Orlando Magic will keep Marcin Gortat by matching the five-year, $34-million offer sheet extended to him by the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Sentinel first reported Monday.

      “Having quality big men is an absolute must in our league, and Marcin has worked very hard to fit into that category,” Magic general manager Otis Smith said in a statement. “He provides tremendous depth to our frontcourt and we’re happy to bring him back.”

      Gortat’s agent, Guy Zucker, told the Dallas Morning News his player is “very, very disappointed.”
      The decision is a bold and costly one for the Magic, who will plunge further into luxury-tax territory than many rivals anticipated after their recent trade for Vince Carter by first signing Brandon Bass away from Dallas to a four-year deal worth a reported $18 million and then matching on Gortat.

      Retaining Gortat and adding Bass will likely take the Magic’s payroll into the $80 million range for next season, which would force Orlando to cut a luxury-tax check of more than $10 million in July 2010 barring roster moves between now and June 30 of next year to lower that figure.

      I don’t get it. They’re willing to give Gortat almost $5 million a season, but they refused to give Hedo Turkoglu — the player mainly responsible for handling and distributing the ball during the Magic’s run to the Finals — the $10 million per season that he was asking for? I don’t mind the Gortat signing by itself, but the Magic may have ruined a good thing by trading for Vince Carter (and in the process, trading away Courtney Lee) and letting Turkoglu get away. Clearly, they are willing to spend — why not keep the most consistent star and main ball handler from last year’s conference champs?

      But back to Gortat. It’s understandable why he would be upset. He was penciled in as the starter for the Mavs, but now he has to play behind Dwight Howard for the foreseeable future, limiting the upside of his next contract. But whining through his agent isn’t going to do him any good, is it?

      The Magic really screwed the Mavs over on this one. They took their sweet time to match Gortat’s offer sheet, and at the same time they agreed to terms with Brandon Bass, ensuring that Dallas wasn’t going to be able to sign either player. This is a huge blow to the Mavs’ title hopes and is more evidence that the NBA should shorten the time span for a team to match an offer sheet for a restricted free agent.

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑