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      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

      Knicks trade David Lee for Anthony Randolph

      July 9, 2010 /
      New York Knicks' David Lee (L) drives around Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum during first half action at Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/Jon SooHoo) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

      Per ESPN…

      Lee’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN.com that Lee has agreed to a sign-and-trade worth $80 million dollars over six years with the Golden State Warriors.

      The deal will send Lee to the Warriors for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike among others.

      Knicks GM Donnie Walsh has coveted Randolph for years and feels he’d give the team another long, athletic forward to pair with Amare Stoudemire and Danilo Gallinari in the frontcourt.

      If Turiaf is indeed included, it will cut into the Knicks’ projected cap space a bit ($4.3 million) next summer, but in Randolph, the Knicks get an up-and-coming power forward that won’t have to be paid until the summer of 2013. The Knicks liked Lee, but obviously didn’t want to cut into their cap space to re-sign him. With this sign-and-trade, Lee gets his big payday and the Knicks get a young player who can grow with the team.

      Lee will be a nice fit in Golden State, as he’s already proven he’s an All-Star caliber player in an up-tempo system. Don Nelson and the Warriors were clearly frustrated with Randolph’s personality (immaturity?) and they were able to turn him into a very solid player.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Reaction to “The Decision”

      July 9, 2010 /
      July 08, 2010 - Greenwich, CONNECTICUT, United States - epa02241974 Handout photo from ESPN showing LaBron James (L), NBA's reigning two-time MVP, as he ends months of speculation and announces 08 July 2010 on ESPN 'The Decision' in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, that he will go to the Miami Heat where he will play basketball next 2010-11 season. James said his decision was based on the fact that he wanted to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

      Ken Berger, CBSSports.com: If James had gone to New York, it would’ve been understandable. (Still no excuse for the pompous way this was done, but understandable.) He would’ve been embracing the challenge of winning in a hard place to win, of doing it bigger than almost any star of the league had ever done. But James didn’t choose that. He did what he’s always done, only on a grander scale this time: He insulated himself, crawled without a whimper into a protective cocoon spun by Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley in Miami. If James had chosen the Bulls, it would’ve been understandable, too. The chance to play in the city that Jordan owned? Too much for James to contemplate. He looked forward to this free-agent charade as a crowning achievement, forgetting about what has always made champions in this sport: Beating the best. James, if nothing else on this pathetic night for the NBA, proved that he isn’t up to that task and doesn’t even want to try. He doesn’t want to beat the best; he wants the best to get him his rings already so his accomplishments can catch up to his hubris — so he can cash in on this make-believe legend in what has been a make-believe career. James’ reputation went from questionable to counterfeit Thursday night, with an assist from the adoring network that pays billions to broadcast a sport that James, ironically, has now done far more damage than good.

      Neil Payne, Basketball-Reference: Like a commenter said yesterday, the Michael Jordan era was so transformative that we may very well have have convinced ourselves that the MJ-Pippen formula (and the Alpha-Beta designations contained therein) is the only way to view the game. Heck, Bill Simmons even wrote a 700-page book that revises the entirety of NBA history to match that ultramasculine theory of basketball. Yet in those same pages Simmons also extolled the virtues of “The Secret”, which is allegedly about sacrificing numbers, money, and individual glory for team success… Well, isn’t what LeBron did last night the living embodiment of The Secret, leaving millions on the table and turning himself into a hometown villain, all for the sake of winning?

      Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Defecting players usually say sports are a business. But while James’ decision certainly crushes businesses around The Q, for Cleveland, this was personal. How could it possibly be business when the Cavaliers could pay $30 million more over a long-term contract than any of his suitors? James is the local legend who severed his ties with the area and now becomes as reviled as any sports figure other than Art Modell. He is the great player who left unfinished business after quitting on his team on the court and left unanswered questions by quitting on his city off it.

      John Krolik, CavsTheBlog: Cleveland owned the Browns long before Art Modell bought them, took them, and moved them. Likewise, Cleveland owned the Cavaliers long before LeBron James joined the team. Cleveland will own the Cavaliers long after LeBron James leaves. Cleveland does not own LeBron James. LeBron James was born in Akron. He was drafted by his hometown Cavaliers, who signed him to a contract. He played at a high enough level to make his contract a relative bargain. He then signed an extension with the Cavaliers. Again, he played at a high enough level to more than justify the money he was given by the Cavaliers. LeBron does not owe the Cavaliers any more than he has given them. LeBron has never needed to pay off some cosmic debt to Cleveland. He’s done all he can to bring a title to the city, but it was never about anybody forcing LeBron to win a title for the Cavaliers. He tried to win Cleveland a title because he wanted to. Cavs fans just got to watch.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Beasley dealt to the T-Wolves

      July 9, 2010 /

      The Heat finally traded Michael Beasley away, and they didn’t get much in return.

      The Miami Heat quickly followed up their triumph in the LeBron James sweepstakes by finding a taker for Michael Beasley.

      But they had to virtually give away the No. 2 overall pick from the 2008 draft to do so.

      Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the Heat agreed Thursday night to a trade that will send Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who can simply absorb Beasley into empty salary-cap space and furnish Miami with additional financial flexibility to continue the dramatic transformation of its roster.

      To complete the trade, Minnesota must only part with a 2011 second-round pick to acquire Beasley. The teams have also agreed to a swap of unspecified future first-round picks.

      The swap of “unspecified future first-round picks” could be substantial, depending on the details. The T-Wolves will probably be in the lottery while the Heat should be picking near the end of the first round for the rest of the decade, so it could be a meaningful move up for the Heat.

      The move clears enough cap space to give LeBron, Wade and Bosh five-year max contracts, though they might take a bit less in order to fit someone like Mike Miller in under the cap. Miami is discussing a sign-and-trade for Bosh to get him an extra year and more money. It will be interesting to see if they go through with it, because it’s going to cost the Heat draft picks that could be used to build a supporting cast around its new ‘Miami Thrice.’

      For the T-Wolves, assuming that aforementioned first round pick is well-protected, Beasley is a nice acquisition. He’s just 21 years old and has averaged 14-6 in his first two years in the league. He can play either forward position depending on what kind of offense and tempo the T-Wolves want to play. In the triangle offense, he could be a Lamar Odom point-forward-type.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

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