Eddie Murray fired by Dodgers

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
June 14, 2007

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Dodgers fired Hall of Famer Eddie Murray as hitting coach Thursday after completing a three-game sweep of the NL East-leading New York Mets in which they got 31 hits and scored 18 runs.

Bill Mueller, hired as special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti during the offseason, will serve as interim hitting coach.

Colletti said the move had been considered for some time.

"We don't do anything here quick or without a lot of thought and a lot of compassion," he said during a telephone conference call. "We feel like there's a lot of the season left and the offense can be a lot better than it is. We decided to do it now."

Manager Grady Little said Murray was told of the decision following a 9-1 victory over the Mets on Wednesday night.

Prince Fielder hit an inside-the-park home run today. I find that to be amusing.

(didn't know where else to post)

Looks like the Orioles are going to fire Perlozzo and they are trying to get Joe Girardi to replace him.

Rod Beck died.

I'm guessing OD.

Yeah he was only 38. Seemed like he was a lot older than that.

I think they've already ruled out foul play.

Big Frank: GONE! 500.

Prince Fielder hit an inside-the-park home run today. I find that to be amusing.

(didn't know where else to post)


What's even more amusing was that belly flop into 2nd base.

Indians fighting each other, gotta love it!

Cleveland Indians' meeting called after Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez have altercations
Monday, July 23, 2007
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

Arlington, Texas -- Trot Nixon called the players-only meeting following the Indians' 8-5 loss to Texas on Saturday night. The meeting was prompted by two in-game altercations between left-hander Cliff Lee and catcher Victor Martinez.

The Indians' locker room was closed for at least 25 minutes after the game. MLB rules state the media must be allowed in the locker room 10 minutes after the last pitch. The meeting lasted so long, manager Eric Wedge came out into the tunnel to talk to reporters.

Martinez and Lee argued on the mound at one point. Lee gave up five runs on six hits in the first inning.

The argument escalated in the third inning when Lee hit Sammy Sosa in the head with a fastball. Sosa, honored before the game by a large delegation of family, friends and politicians from the Dominican Republic for hitting his 600th homer June 20, had to leave the game.

More...
http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1185179800236630.xml&coll=2

Man, pro sports are just crazy right now.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070724-9999-1s24adrian.html


Gonzalez receives a death threat

By Joe Hughes
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

July 24, 2007

San Diego police are working with Mexican authorities to investigate a death threat made against Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez told police Friday night he had received a message saying “we are going to kill you” on his cell phone earlier in the day.

The account was contained in a police report filed late Friday.

Gonzalez said he was grocery shopping with his wife at Ralphs when he decided to play his messages and heard the threat, the report stated.

The male caller also said “your father is worthless.” The message was delivered in Spanish and English.

Gonzalez told police the threat could be tied to business dealings of his parents. They have received kidnapping and death threats in recent months, he said.

His father, David Gonzalez, was majority owner of the Tijuana Potros professional baseball team and recently had a falling out with other partners, dissolving the partnership and selling the club, the police report said.

Adrian Gonzalez declined comment before last night's game in Denver due to the ongoing investigation.

Padres Chief Executive Officer Sandy Alderson said the team was aware of the situation. “We have taken steps through Major League Baseball,” Alderson said. “We are taking this very seriously. Law enforcement is involved.”

Marycarmen Viera, coordinator of the Potros' marketing department, said team officials didn't know about any type of threat against the Gonzalez family.

Adrian Gonzalez told police he did not recognize the voice on the phone message, which was less than a minute long. The number has been traced to Whittier, to a name Gonzalez said he did not know.

He made his report to police at Petco Park after the game against Philadelphia.

Gonzalez grew up in Chula Vista and graduated from Eastlake High.

I heard this morning on Fox Sports Radio that the Padres are expected to release David Wells today.

I heard this morning on Fox Sports Radio that the Padres are expected to release David Wells today.

Just read the AP report on this. They gave him the option of retiring or being DFA to see if another team wants to claim him.

Ledezma is getting what was supposed to be Wells' start on Friday.

Wells is 0-3 and a 14 something ERA the last 4 starts I heard.

Who would have ever guessed that Scott Spiezio was on drugs?

http://cardinalgirl.mlblogs.com/cardinal_girl/images/spiezio_1.jpg

http://www.red-hot-mama.com/images/uploads/speizio_tattoo.jpg

Aug. 14 -- Phil Rizzuto, a Hall of Fame shortstop and 40-year broadcaster for the New York Yankees known for his casual delivery and catchphrase ``holy cow,'' has died. He was 89.

The Yankees confirmed Rizzuto's death, without giving details.

Holy sheepshit.


Summary: Micah Owings was the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four runs and six RBIs and got the win on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out seven over seven innings. He is the first pitcher with four hits, four runs and six RBIs in the same game.

I'm convinced the Diamondbacks are the best team in the NL.

I'm convinced the Diamondbacks are the best team in the NL.

They are doing pretty well for giving up more runs than they have scored.

Former Tiger skipper Phil Garner is now unemployed.

Randy Smith's dad takes over as GM.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2993335


Astros fire manager Garner, GM Purpura
ESPN.com news services

Updated: August 27, 2007, 4:17 PM ET

HOUSTON -- Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance.

Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.

"I felt this was the time for a change," owner Drayton McLane said. "I just think we needed a fresh start."

Garner took over the Astros in the middle of the 2004 season after Jimy Williams was fired. The Astros went 48-26 in the second half and won 36 of their last 46 games to win the NL wild card, then defeated Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs before losing to St. Louis in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series.

Houston won its second straight wild-card berth in 2005 and defeated the Braves and Cardinals in the playoffs before getting swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.

"You never like to get fired," Garner told KRIV-TV of Houston. "The good parts are I'm so happy to have been able to come back and have been something very exciting for this city.

"We got to the World Series and I'm grateful for that. It has been a wonderful ride and I have had a great deal of fun. All the players, including Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, have been really special."

Garner said he wasn't bothered by the timing of the move.

"It really doesn't make a difference," Garner told KRIV. "If you think it's time to do it, then do it. There's no right time or wrong time. The worst thing you can do is drag it out."

The Astros were 82-80 last year, finishing 1½ games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, and following the departures of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte slumped to 58-73 this year, nine games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs.

"When we started the season, I felt we had a great team," McLane said. "The team is there. It's how do we change what's there, renew some of them."

So the Dodgers pick up Wells and Loaiza in the last week for the playoff run. Must be nice to have the dough to take a little chance on some pitching.

Anybody else watching this?

I know, I know, everybody is probably watching the Shock.

Was.

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Juan Encarnacion will miss the remainder of the season and his career is in jeopardy after sustaining multiple fractures of his left eye socket when struck by a foul ball Friday night.

Hit by a foul ball in the on deck circle, sounds like it was pretty gruesome.

Damn. That sucks.

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/09/12/PH2007091202876.jpg
Dolphin Stadium in Miami is all but deserted for the Nationals' game against the Marlins. "It was so sad," Nats Manager Manny Acta said of the atmosphere.

What the hell? I knew the attendance was low, nothing like that.

Any reason? What did I miss?

After 12 Innings, Nats Left Feeling Vacant
Grueling Day In Desolate Park Ends With Loss: Marlins 5, Nationals 4

By Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 13, 2007; E05

MIAMI, Sept. 12 -- After 4 hours 9 minutes of laboring in the tropical midday heat in a cavernous and virtually empty stadium Wednesday afternoon, the Washington Nationals got stuck with this: a 5-4 loss to the Florida Marlins in 12 innings that was sealed when a .226 reserve player chopped a single through the infield to drive home the winning run.

Florida left fielder Todd Linden, waived earlier this year by the San Francisco Giants, got his bat on a sinker from reliever Saul Rivera and punched it just to the right of second base as shortstop D'Angelo Jimenez and second baseman Ronnie Belliard tried, but failed, to get gloves on the ball.

Reggie Abercrombie, elected to pinch-run for Mike Jacobs after his leadoff double, scored from third to end a marathon that had been deadlocked since the sixth inning. The several dozen fans who speckled the plastic orange seating provided an odd backdrop, offering the same chorus of celebratory shouts and claps that would accompany a Little League game.

"To throw a good pitch like [Rivera] did, a sinker down and away, and for a guy to roll over it and find a hole after 4 1/2 hours," catcher Brian Schneider said, "is very disappointing."

The loss, Washington's second straight to the Marlins, left the visitor's clubhouse at Dolphin Stadium nearly as silent as the stadium had been much of the afternoon. There were perhaps 400 people in attendance. Players seemed both exasperated and exhausted by the fruitless performance that barely anyone was there to see.

"It looked, actually, like an extended spring game," Nationals Manager Manny Acta said about the crowd at the stadium, which seats 75,000 fans for football games. "It was so sad, but we still got to play the game. [Linden] just hit the ball perfectly -- the only place he could hit it in the infield and beat it out."

Though the Nationals secured the season series against the Marlins (10-8) with their one victory in three games here this week, they left still fighting to stay out of the basement of the National League East. They are just two games ahead of Florida in that race.

"They know, and we know, we're playing for something," Acta said. "We don't want to finish last and they don't want to finish last. It's no secret."

What began ignominiously with poor outings by both starting pitchers -- Washington's Joel Hanrahan and Florida's Byung Hyun Kim were charged with all but two of the game's runs -- evolved into a classic pitching duel between bullpens that, judging by the number of batting helmets and bats spiked to the turf, left hitters from both sides demoralized as the innings stretched on.

By game's end, 16 pitchers combined to strike out 33 batters. Twelve half-innings concluded with strikeouts.

Infuriated by his inning-ending strikeout in the second with the bases loaded, the Marlins' Jeremy Hermida tossed his bat so hard it busted into several pieces. Power hitter Miguel Cabrera flipped his bat into the air dramatically after striking out with one on in the eighth. Washington's Ryan Zimmerman put on a similar display after whiffing with two on in the sixth, and Ryan Langerhans tossed his equipment after fanning to end the 10th.

With a man in scoring position in the bottom of that inning, Dan Uggla struck out swinging, too.

"It was a long day," said Ryan Church, who hit a fifth-inning home run before being replaced in center field by Nook Logan. And "it was an odd day. . . . It was so frigging hot. It was miserable out there."

Temperatures reached the low 90s with high humidity. Though five Washington relievers combined to allow no runs and only two base runners from the seventh inning through the 11th, the Nationals never recovered from Hanrahan's early collapse. After escaping two bases-loaded jams early, he faltered. In the third inning, he allowed a leadoff single to Cabrera, then surrendered two-run home run with two outs to catcher Miguel Olivo.

In just 3 1/3 innings, Hanrahan gave up three runs, walked six and allowed six hits. Even worse, he threw 104 pitches, nearly a full game's worth.

"It was a very disappointing effort," he said. "I'm still working on things."

Kim, meantime, might have put forth one of the least effective 10-strikeout performances in baseball history. When he wasn't dominating the Nationals, he was putting them on base. He gave up seven hits and walked four in 5 2/3 innings, including back-to-back home runs in the fifth to Church and Wily Mo Pe?a.

That gave Washington a 4-3 lead that lasted until the bottom of the sixth, when Hermida homered off Jonathan Albaladejo to produce the tie that would stretch into extra innings.

"The end was disappointing," Schneider said. "To have that happen, it's hard."

That is just a pathetic effort from those fans, what did they think, that this was the WNBA Finals or something?

Robinson Cano is so pretty.

13

Is that Wang in the background?

No, not Cano's wang, Chien Min.

I think it is.

I just heard that former Tiger Gabe Kapler is going to try to come back next year with the Red Sox.

He's 32 and has been managing in the minors.

Dusty Baker is rumored to be going to the Reds. I had a cup of coffee with him a couple of weeks ago, but haven't seen him since.

Dusty to the Reds.

OT...how do you pronounce Langlois? Can you spell it phanetically?

The "commoners" usually use LANG-LOY, but at our meetings the club likes to use LANG-LUH-WAH

Thanks Glenn.

At the Lang-luh-wah fan club?

I pronounced it LANG-LOYCE...

Schilling signs with BoSox, 8mil, Pettitte declines Yanks option, Injuns pick up option on Byrd, 7.5.

the Tribe also picked up Joe Borowski's option...which is good b/c he's worse than Jones...

Astros traded Brad Lidge to the Phillies for the speedster OF Michael Bourn...

kind of an interesting move, the Tigers were rumored during the deadline to be coveting Lidge, he needed to get out of Houston badly, the change of scenery should be good for him, Qualls will probably close for Houston now...

Ryan Braun named National League Rookie of the Year (just barely over Troy Tulowitzki).

Dustin Pedroia named American League Rookie of the Year. (2nd place was Delmon Young)


I can't believe Cameron Maybin didn't win the thing...

Cubs trade Craig Monroe to the Twins for ptbnl.

Ah, another team gives up on C-Mo

Great, he is going to tear us up in our Central Division showdowns.

Great, he is going to tear us up in our Central Division showdowns.

not if you throw him a breakingball...

plus he's arbitration eligible, so the Twins are going to have to pay him more than he's made in any season this year...

this was not a classic "Twins" move...

RE:Bonds A Grand Jury indicted Bonds on perjury and obstruction charges today.

Derek Jeter is getting in some hot water with tax peeps. He claims he lives in Florida (presumably to avoid NY taxes).

Derek Jeter is getting in some hot water with tax peeps. He claims he lives in Florida (presumably to avoid NY taxes).
The idea seems smart until you think that he has to play baseball in New York 3/4 of the year. Unless his offseason home is in Florida, he lives there during spring training, and he spends his off time during the season there, I'm not thinking that would go over very well.

Pale hose traded Garland to the Angels for O.Cabrera

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118872

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Outfielder Torii Hunter (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5884) and the Los Angeles Angels (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=laa) reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a five-year contract thought to be worth $90 million.
"They play the game the right way," Hunter said. "They play hard-nosed baseball."
The agreement is subject to a physical.
The 32-year-old becomes the much-needed hitter the Angels sought to protect Vladimir Guerrero (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5737) in the batting order. Hunter hit .297 with 28 homers and 107 RBIs for the Minnesota Twins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=min) this year and is a seven-time Gold Glove winner.

Major league left-hander Joe Kennedy dies
By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com

Updated: November 23, 2007, 2:33 PM ET


Major league pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday morning while at home with his family in Florida, agent Damon Lapa confirmed to ESPN.com.

The cause of Kennedy's death could not immediately be determined, Lapa said. Initial indications are Kennedy may have suffered a brain aneurysm or heart attack, he said.

Kennedy passed out at home and was brought to a hospital, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter told the Associated Press. She had no further details.

Kennedy, 28, compiled a 43-61 record in seven major league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays.

A left-hander, Kennedy broke into the majors in 2001 with the Devil Rays. In three full seasons with Tampa Bay he made 72 starts, compiling an 18-31 record.

"We were terribly shocked," Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said, according to the AP. "From what we understand he was in Bradenton ... to be the best man at a wedding today."

Godfrey said he didn't have any particulars on the cause of death.

"When a 28-year-old man dies it's terrible," he said.

Florida Marlins vice president Dan Jennings, who was Tampa Bay's scouting director when the Rays selected Kennedy in the eighth round of the 1998 draft, learned of Kennedy's death Friday morning from Craig Weissmann -- the scout who signed Kennedy out of Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif.

"There are no words to describe this,'' Jennings told ESPN.com. "It's very, very tragic. My condolences go out to him and his family.''

Jennings said he remembers Kennedy primarily for his competitiveness on the mound.

"Joe was on a mission from the moment we signed him, and that mission was to be a major league pitcher,'' Jennings said. "He was very much a competitive kid who liked challenging hitters.

"I remember joking around with him in the clubhouse one year during interleague play. We were on our way to San Francisco to face the Giants, and we were having fun with him about facing Barry Bonds. Joe told us, 'You know what? If he gets me, he'll have to earn it, because I'm gonna challenge him.' That's just who Joe was.''

Since 2004, Kennedy had two stints each with Colorado and Oakland. He started the 2007 season with Oakland, was claimed off waivers in August by Arizona, then designated for assignment before being signed by the Blue Jays on Aug. 29.

Kennedy had a career 4.79 ERA, pitching 908 2/3 innings over 222 career appearances.

Kennedy made his major league debut on June 6, 2001 as a starting pitcher. He went 5 innings, earning a win against the Blue Jays.

He made his last appearance in relief on Sept. 29, 2007 in a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay.

"The entire Oakland's A's organization sends our thoughts out to Joe's family," said Oakland assistant general manager David Forst. "He was a valued member of our organization for almost two years, and certainly a guy we loved having around.''

Kennedy was married with a 1-year old son.

The Reds signed Francisco Cordero.

Francisco Cordero signed with the Reds, Scott Linebrink signed w/ the White Sox...both were probably in the top 5 relief pitchers available this offseason...

Anyone hear numbers on those deals? I'd like to think they were too pricey for us, or else I'll be upset that we didn't get one of them.

Cordero got like 43 mil for 4 years I believe.

Ouch.

WOW


Sources: Rays, Twins close to Young-Garza swap
ESPN.com news services

Updated: November 28, 2007, 4:08 PM ET

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are close to a swap of two potential future stars.

The Twins would acquire outfielder Delmon Young in exchange for right-hander Matt Garza, sources told ESPN.com's Keith Law.

The potential swap was first reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which reported the deal could involve as many as six players, with shortstop Jason Bartlett and reliever Juan Rincon going to Tampa Bay in the deal and shortstop Brendan Harris and outfield prospect Jason Pridie coming to Minnesota.

Young, 22, hit .288 with 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in his first full major league season. Garza, 24, was 5-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts for the Twins in 2007.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft, Young has struggled to keep his temper in check during his time in professional baseball. He received a 50-game suspension after flipping his bat into the chest of a Triple-A umpire in 2006, and was suspended three games by the Southern League for bumping an umpire while playing for Double-A Montgomery in 2005.

Young is the younger brother of Washington first baseman Dmitri Young.

Did he burn bridges here or something?

I know he left with a bunch of Illitch's money, maybe that's the same thing?


Sources: Rays close to multiyear deal with reliever Percival
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine

Updated: November 28, 2007, 8:24 PM ET

Troy Percival got to know Joe Maddon when he pitched for the Angels and Maddon was a coach for the same team. Assuming there are no unforeseen snags in negotiations, Percival and Maddon will be reunited in Tampa Bay next season. Sources say that Percival is close to completing a multiyear contract with the Rays.

Percival, 38, retired after pitching in 26 games for Detroit in 2006. But he came back to pitch for St. Louis last year and threw well, compiling a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings over 34 games. Percival has a long history as a closer, with 324 career saves, but he probably will fill a variety of roles for Tampa Bay, which has retained closer Al Reyes. The Rays also will probably value Percival for his old-school approach, something that could be a help with such a young team as Tampa Bay.

"It's not done-done," said Paul Cohen, who represents Percival. "We're still working on some things." Cohen said he got some directions from Percival at about noon on Wednesday.

Milwaukee, the Yankees and the Giants are among the teams which have expressed interest in Percival.

We didn't really want him as a pitcher anymore due to his injury history. That's the last I knew.

The Mets could have had any starting pitcher from Oakland for Milledge less than two years ago, including Zito.

Let's hope that this is not how Maybin leaves this franchise.


Mets deal Milledge for Nats' Church, Schneider
Associated Press

Updated: November 30, 2007, 2:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church were traded to the New York Mets by the Washington Nationals on Friday for outfielder Lastings Milledge.

In Schneider, the Mets add yet another catcher, following their trade for Johnny Estrada last week. In Milledge, the Nationals pick up a talented young player they hope can avoid the sorts of missteps that marked his Mets career and be a key component of their rebuilding project.

Schneider was given a lot of credit last season for holding together a ragtag Nationals starting rotation, but he struggled at the plate, batting .235 with six homers and 54 RBIs.

Church hit .272 with 15 homers and 70 RBIs, while tying for the team lead with 43 doubles.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya is familiar with both players he gets in the deal from his time as GM of the Montreal Expos, the franchise that moved to Washington before the 2005 season.

And Milledge and Nationals manager Manny Acta know each other from Acta's stint as the Mets' third-base coach.

Milledge hit .272 with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 184 at-bats with the Mets in 2007.

Still just 22, he was the Mets' top prospect when he made his major league debut in May 2006. Right away, he showed why he was so highly rated on the field -- but also drew the ire of his team and teammates.

One of the most publicized episodes came in the town that will be his new home. In September 2006, a sign was posted in Milledge's locker in the visiting clubhouse at RFK Stadium that read: "Know your place, Rook. Your teammates."

Milledge earlier had been reprimanded for not running hard on the bases and had arrived late to the clubhouse for a game. He also rankled Mets management by making a rap CD that used offensive language.

Dodgers give Andruw Jones 2 years and $36m

Hate to say it, but Cabrera's going to cost us $25 Mill a year at this rate.

The Cubs gots them some Fukudome

and the Dodgers signed Kuroda

and the Padres signed Tadahito Iguchi...man yeterday was like Jap day

and the Padres signed Tadahito Iguchi...man yeterday was like Jap day


No offense intended. No offense.

Orioles trade Tejada to the Astros for a bunch of players I don't know.

Orioles trade Tejada to the Astros for a bunch of players I don't know.


terrible trade, the Astros need pitching, they have enough hitting (Carlos Lee, Berkman, Kaz Matsui)...

at least Tejada is out of the AL...theres no excuse for the Tigs to lose more than one game to the Orioles this season

Aaron Rowand signs a 5 year deal with the Giants

throw that one under the list of "Bad Sabean contracts"

The Cubs did not offer Mark Prior a contract.

He is now a free agent.

Haren to the D-Backs.

That pitching staff is absolutely sick now.

The Cubs did not offer Mark Prior a contract.

He is now a free agent.

Finally something we have over UxKa.

hahahaha Mark Prior

Jim Edmonds traded to the Padres for cash and a prospect.

Jose Valverde traded to the Astros...

Astros have had a busy offseason...

Do the D-Backs have another closer in mind already, or are they hoping Webb, Haren and Unit pitch CG's every time out? I don't necessarily understand adding a stud to your starting staff only to ship out the league saves leader. I could see if he was Todd Jones-esque and had big save numbers but also an inflated ERA, but Valverde had a 2.66 ERA .196 BAA, 78 K's against 26 BB in 64 innings. If you want to win now (which seems like a goal if you're counting on Randy Johnson to contribute) why not keep your closer?

Meanwhile, Billy Beane was quoted as saying they wanted to get younger. Um, Haren is 27. How much younger do you want to get?

Seriously, as much as I love it that the Tigers have taken advantage of some teams, MLB needs to do something serious to stop teams from firesales. A salary cap and salary floor are necessary before long, and if baseball is already going to be working hard to overcome the Mitchell Report, they might as well put in the work to make some of these other things happen in time.

I think the D'Backs are going to go with Tony Pena as their closer...he showed he was very durable last year...

Qualls would probably be their fall back, although Valverde had a ton of saves, he's been inconsistent throughout his career...

Salary floor would be a good thing. They do revenue sharing right? Because if you notice who usually has the firesales, its the small market teams that don't make a ton of money. I love the idea of being able to have a dominant team, but you've got to even the playing field a little bit. Maybe try something like the NBA and have a luxary tax. That would slow New York and Boston's spending (and yes, I realize we would be slowed too)

I think about teams that have had fireslaes over the past 10-15 years. Marlins (multiple times), Expos/Nationals, Padres, Diamondbacks, Reds, A's, Pirates. Other teams have come close as well.

But look at the Tigers. For a long time they were treated like a small market team because that's how Ilitch was treating them. Now we're a top 5 team. It seems Ilitch has learned his lesson and as long as the team remains under his ownership we will be among the top teams, especially given the community support shown for a winning team.

Some of the teams that have had firesales are in what would be a midsize market, but the community is not turned on to baseball. If given any power over baseball, I would look at teams with winning records but horrible fan support and put them on the moving block. I would look at teams with a mixed bag of results but perpetually poor fan support and I would make them a victim of contraction. I would love to see baseball as a 24 team league again, with a AAAA level of the minor leagues that would operate more like small market teams. They would have a tv contract, feature the greatest prospects in the game, rehabbing veterans, and guys with decent experience. They would be paid better than most minor league players and would be worth watching because of the impact they would have on the major league and the fact that they would be in bigger markets than most AAA teams. I've detailed and adapted this plan several times and have it as a massive document on my hard drive. It's a great plan. Many on this site have heard references to it from the old days. Massive reform.

The Mud Hens actually get amazing attendance. My sister lives a block from the stadium and whenever I go visit her on a game night I always take a look as I drive by and its packed.

But I'm saying if there was a AAAA league, consider this. Anyone on your 40 man roster but not your 25 man is required to play at AAAA. If the majors only had 24 teams (contracting 5) the AAAA franchises would be in markets among the top 50 cities in US population. Places like San Antonio, Indianapolis, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Louisville, Portland, Omaha, etc. Other places with contracted teams could get franchises as well. If your AAAA team out-draws your MLB team for 3 consecutive years, they would have a shot to replace that team (builds some continuity of players for fan association). Teams would be matched with AAAA franchises as regional as possible. Another possibility would be to make sure Northern teams had a southern team matched to them. Northern teams could play their April home games in the southern city, while begininng the AAAA season a month later. Yes, it would mean a Detroit home opener at Comerica might not happen until May, but I think it would be worth it in the long run. So many other details, so little time/space.

Sounds a bit like the Euroleague basketball, where teams get sent down to the bottom league when they don't perform as well.

That's where I got the idea. Someone mentioned it to me and I made some tweaks.

Yanks back in talks with Twins on Santana. Somebody better snatch him up or DD will. :)

I don't understand why either the Yankees or Red Sox are so reluctant to part with 2 of their top prospects, I mean they have the money to be able to replace those prospects with proven veterans any way, and it's not like the Twins are offering the best pitcher in the world or anything you know???

Props to the Twins for not being undersold, as much as I'd hate to face Johan 7 times a year as opposed to once or twice, I'd rather the Twins get fair value than the greedy pigs in New York or Boston rip off the small markets like that...

(I know we ripped off Florida, but we are not the type of baseball market New York or Boston is...yet)

We gave Florida exactly what they wanted. They wanted our top 2 prospects for two of the guys they didn't want to pay. You have to take into account how much they saved on payroll as part of that trade.

Seattle Mariners are close to signing Carlos Silva, considering he was probably the best starter on the market, I can't wait to see what the terms were, probably something like Gil Meche's 5 year, 55 million deal from last year...

Mariners Projected Rotation

Felix Hernandez
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista
Carlos Silva
Cha Seung Baek or possibly Brandon Morrow if they want to pull him out of the bullpen


yuck!

Both Chad Durbin & Geoff Jenkins signed with the Phillies...

Felix Hernandez
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista
Carlos Silva
Cha Seung Baek or possibly Brandon Morrow if they want to pull him out of the bullpen




?!?!

WHERE'S JEFF WEAVER?!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PHO/AAGP106~Jeff-Weaver-2005-Studio-Plus-Posters.jpg

Jeff Weaver to the Tiger's pen?

Weaver's a FA...I doubt theres much of a market for the Weave

Also Cuban legend Alexei Ramirez signed a 4 year deal with the White Sox...thats a big gamble giving that many years to a guy who has never faced any big competition

Damn.


Padres add Prior to pitching mix

By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
Updated: December 26, 2007, 2:06 PM ET

Mark Prior, cut loose by the Cubs earlier this month, has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres.

Prior receives a one-year major league deal with $1 million base salary. The contract, which doesn't include an option, contains incentive clauses that could take the total value of the deal to over $3 million.

An announcement is expected to come sometime Wednesday.

Prior, 27, last pitched in the big leagues in 2006, and had shoulder surgery in April of 2007.

The second overall pick in the 2001 draft, Prior went 18-6 for the Cubs in 2003 before experiencing a series of physical problems. He was born in San Diego and lives in San Diego County, and the Padres' hope is that he is able to join a rotation that already includes Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf.

He has been throwing on flat ground, and to date, has been free of pain since his surgery.

Prior's lifetime record in the big leagues is 42-29, with a 3.51 ERA.

That's a bargain deal if he can bounce back AT ALL. If he regains everything, that's a sick 1-2 punch. Not quite Mulder-Zito or Mulder-Hudson or Mulder-Carpenter, but pretty sick nonetheless.

I lol'd