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      Yankees and Red Sox battling over Russell Martin

      December 10, 2010 /
      July 25, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02261133 Los Angeles Dodgers' Russell Martin hits a one run double to give his team the lead during eighth inning of a Major League baseball game against the New York Mets in Los Angeles, California, USA, 25 July 2010. Dodgers won 1-0.

      The Yankees and Red Sox have their eyes set on the same catcher reports ESPN’s Buster Olney.

      Via his Twitter page, Olney writes that the Yankees are “taking an aggressive approach” in negotiations with Russell Martin, who batted just .248 with five home runs, 48 RBI and 45 runs scored in an injury plagued 2010 season. He wound up with only 331 at bats, which was a career-low for the Dodger backstop.

      But while the Bombers may be aggressively pursuing Martin, Olney said Thursday that the Red Sox were still the favorites to land him. The Blue Jays are also in the mix, as is least one other unidentified team according to Rotoworld.com.

      The Yankees want to make Jorge Posada their full-time DH, which would open up a spot for Martin behind the plate. If they were to acquire him, Jesus Montero would likely stay at Triple-A in order to gain more seasoning.

      Martin’s numbers have steadily declined since 2009. That year, he slumped while hitting only .250 with seven home runs in 143 games, which were the weakest totals in his four-year career. In August last year, he suffered a torn labrum in his right hip while trying to avoid a tag at home plate in a game against the Padres and he missed the rest of the season with the injury.

      Seeing as how he’s only 27, he has plenty of time to turn around his career and maybe a change of scenery would do him well. That said, changing leagues is no easy task for a hitter that has played his entire career in the National League.

      External Sports, MLB

      Would Chris Petersen leave Boise State to coach at Florida?

      December 10, 2010 /
      Nov 6, 2010; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos coach Chris Petersen during the game against the Hawaii Rainbows at Bronco Stadium. Boise State defeated Hawaii 42-7. Photo via Newscom

      If this were Bobby Petrino, it would take him all of four minutes to clean out his office at Arkansas and be on the first plane to Gainesville.

      But Bobby Petrino Chris Petersen is not. To Petersen, loyalty still means something, which is one of the reasons he may stay right where he’s at in Boise.

      Since Urban Meyer stepped down at Florida, Petersen’s name has been brought up in connection with the Gators’ open head coaching job. And why not? He’s compiled a 60-5 record at Boise State and has turned the program into a yearly national title contender (even though the BCS would never allow the Broncos to actual contend for a championship). He should be the type of coach that Florida wants to replace Meyer. He has a great work ethic, his players love him and perhaps no coach in college football gets the most out of his recruits as Petersen does at Boise State.

      But would he even want to leave Idaho? The assumption is that every head coach wants to land a bigger and better job, but the SEC is a different animal. If he took the Florida job, Petersen would have to recruit in the SEC (something he’s never done) and coach SEC-caliber talent (another thing he hasn’t had to contend with at Boise). Former Bronco coaches Dirk Koetter and Dan Hawkins also struggled when they left Idaho, so that’s something to consider as well.

      That said, it would be insane to think that Petersen couldn’t recruit in the nation’s best conference or that he couldn’t handle blue chip prospects. But maybe he doesn’t want to either. He has long stated how happy he is coaching at Boise and seeing as how he’s not Petrino, I tend to believe him.

      Petersen has a good thing going at Boise and it’ll be interesting to see if his name grows synonymous with the Florida job over these next couple of months. For right now though, it seems likely that he’ll stay put.

      College Football, External Sports

      Fantasy Football News & Notes: Friday (12/10)

      December 10, 2010 /

      Percy Harvin looking iffy to play on Sunday. Not only are the migraines an issue, but Leslie Frazier believes it would be tough to get him up to speed in terms of the game plan. I have him ranked #44 this week for that reason. If he were able to go, I’d probably put him in the mid-30’s. Generally-speaking, if you have a decent option, you should go with it this week. The migraines are one thing, but he also has a bad matchup against a good New York pass defense.

      Matt Cassel is doubtful for Sunday. I believe this hurts Dwayne Bowe, but Rotoworld argues that Brodie Croyle will target his #1 receiver early and often. He could have a very nice day, but I’m leery anytime there’s a change at QB. Plus, the matchup is bad and he’s coming off a goose egg in W13. He’s a pretty solid WR2 this week, in my opinion.

      Mike Shanahan won’t name a starter at RB. Surprise, surprise. Shanahan is wreaking havoc in the world of fantasy football. Signs point to Ryan Torain returning to the starting role, but Skeletor said that he plans to exercise caution since it’s Torain’s first game back. The matchup is very good, so I think Torain can be productive if he gets 12-15 carries, and is fairly likely to score.

      Both Steve Smith 2.0 and Hakeem Nicks are listed as questionable. I’m expecting both guys to play based on what I’ve read this week, though I’m not terribly excited about either player. Smith 2.0 will probably be limited in terms of the number of snaps he plays and Nicks seems a little more iffy to play at all. The Vikings are playing better defense later, so I’d only use these players if there aren’t any other good options available. Nicks’ big-play ability is tantalizing, however.

      Mike Williams (TB) is listed as probable. Great news for his owners who were no doubt wondering if the talented rookie would be available for his great matchup with the Redskins. I have him ranked #15 and would definitely recommend him this week unless there’s horrible weather in Washington come Sunday. This is also a big boost to Josh Freeman owners who plan to use him this week.

      Mike Sims-Walker is probable. I wouldn’t start him this week, but this is good news for David Garrard and Mike Thomas, who won’t have to deal with Nnamdi Asomugha this week, though the star CB is still gimpy with a sore ankle. Even with MSW’s return, the Jags have featured Maurice Jones-Drew with great success the last few weeks, and that trend will no doubt continue against the Raiders, who have had trouble stopping the run this season.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, News, NFL

      Cam Newton says he chose Auburn “the right way,” is already using third person like a champ

      December 10, 2010 /
      ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn Tigers stretches before the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

      Cam Newton recently told ESPN that Auburn was “best for Cam Newton” and that’s why he chose to play there and not Mississippi State. Not because his dad shopped around his services to the highest bidder.

      “I had no dealings with nobody at Mississippi State during the time that I came to Auburn,” Newton said. “But Mississippi State knows it was between Mississippi State and Auburn. And if you’ve been following this, there’s no secret. But I felt that, as a whole, Auburn possessed what’s best for Cam Newton, and that’s why I decided to come here on my decision.”

      He said telling Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen — who had been an assistant at Florida when Newton went there two years prior — he would be going to Auburn was difficult. ESPN reported Nov. 9 that Newton had told a Mississippi State recruiter that his father had chosen Auburn because “the money was too much.

      “I’m not here to talk about any reports,” Newton said.

      “I called Coach Mullen. I told him what I had in my heart at the time. I talked to him and his wife, Miss Megan, and we had an excellent conversation. They wished me the best, and I wished them the best.”

      Uh, huh.

      Newton may be telling the truth but a couple of things don’t add up here. First of all, did he tell a Mississippi State recruiter that his father had chosen Auburn because of the money or not? If he didn’t and he has nothing to hide, why not deny the report? Instead, he skirts the issue by saying he’s “not here to talk about any reports.”

      Granted, maybe somebody instructed him to say anything but I thought honesty was always the best policy? If you have nothing to hide, then scream it from the rooftops until somebody listens.

      The other thing that doesn’t add up is why he chose Auburn over Mississippi State. It’s not like Auburn was a powerhouse program before he got there and he already had a relationship with Bulldogs’ coach Dan Mullen. So why Auburn? Was it money perhaps?

      Anthony Stalter is having a hard time believing that Cecil Newton didn’t ask Mississippi State for cash and when they didn’t deliver, he turned around and got something from Auburn instead. That’s just one outsider’s opinion, but it’s not difficult to connect the dots. The sad part is that Cam is now caught up in something from which he may or may not have benefited. Anthony Stalter is not suggesting he’s innocent, but it sure sounds as though Cecil was the catalyst for this entire situation.

      And shame on him (Cecil, not Anthony Stalter) if he was.

      College Football, External Sports

      If it’s not about keeping Favre’s streak alive, why play him?

      December 10, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings is assisted by medical staff against the Buffalo Bills defense at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      Leslie Frazier said something on Friday that has me scratching my head. (It’s not lice – I’m clean.)

      He said that he wouldn’t play Brett Favre for just one snap or one series to keep his consecutive games streak alive. He said, “I wouldn’t do that. We wouldn’t do that. And I can tell you Brett wouldn’t want it that way. I can tell you this: If we decide to play Brett, it’s with the mindset that he’ll play the game, and play well.”

      Frazier went on to say that he doubts whether Favre would play through the “tremendous pain” he suffers when he starts his throwing motion. Yet we’ve seen this all before. Brett can barely stand up on Friday, but he starts on Sunday. Brett is in too much pain to even tie his shoelaces on Saturday, but he’s in uniform and under center on Sunday.

      My question is, why play him if he’s not even close to 100%? I realize he’s never healthy and he’s played through injuries countless times before, but is the 2010 version of Brett Favre at 60% better than a fully healthy Tarvaris Jackson? Even the staunchest Favre supporters and harshest Jackson critics can’t say yes to that, can they?

      I believe Frazier when he says that he wouldn’t play Favre to keep his consecutive starts streak alive. But I have a hard time understanding why Frazier still believes that Favre gives the Vikings their best chance of winning. He’s compiled a 69.6 QB rating this season and has thrown 18 interceptions to just 10 touchdowns. While he’s still completing over 60 percent of his passes (60.4%), the Vikings are converting just 35.76 percent of their third down opportunities and have a turnover margin of –0.9.

      Granted, I understand those last two stats aren’t all Favre’s fault. But he’s the quarterback. He’s what makes the offense go and if he can’t keep drives alive and is failing to protect the ball, then get him out of there. Furthermore, if his health is factoring into his shoddy decision-making, then playing him makes little sense.

      I realize Jackson isn’t the answer and his receivers bailed him out on a couple of bad throws in last week’s win over the Bills. But at least he’s healthy, mobile and hungry. Two of those descriptions don’t fit Favre and I’m starting to wonder if the third one does either.

      External Sports, NFL

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