This Week in Baseball

[devo 0]

Hey, we're all talking about our own teams here. Do the same if you want the Astros mentioned.

 

If it's any consolation, my posts here for the next four days will incidentally be about the Astros as the Mets are traveling to Houston tomorrow.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The Houston Astros.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Gary Matthews Jr, former Oriole hits another hr, and its now 11-8 in the 11th.

 

Os lose! They are now tied for 3rd with the Blue Jays.

[treble 0]

Now, if Baltimore's anything like Toronto, they'll win only when Boston wins and lose only when Boston loses. The only ground the Jays have made up in the last week or so is when they haven't played and the Sox lost.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised if there's no stink made over LaRussa letting Marquis throw 132 pitches tonight.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I presume that with a rotation of Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Al Leiter, Hideo Nomo, and Kevin Brown, the New York Yankees have given up on winning in 2005, and have assembled a time machine that will allow them travel back in time to win the 1997 World Series.

[MrRant 0]

I'm going to the Indians vs. Seattle game Thursday night.

 

Only because I got free tickets.

 

And then only because they are box seats on the first base line....

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

That's it, no one mention the Astros.  Everyone just keep talking about every other team but them.  Nothing to see here, move along.

 

Dammit!  I've jinxed it! *prays to the baseball gods for forgiveness*

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Believe me, I've noticed.

[iggymcfly 0]

Now, if Baltimore's anything like Toronto, they'll win only when Boston wins and lose only when Boston loses.  The only ground the Jays have made up in the last week or so is when they haven't played and the Sox lost.

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No, I think the Orioles are just planning on losing regardless. I've never seen a team dive so fast at the all-star break before.

[CanadianChris 0]

Now, if Baltimore's anything like Toronto, they'll win only when Boston wins and lose only when Boston loses.  The only ground the Jays have made up in the last week or so is when they haven't played and the Sox lost.

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No, I think the Orioles are just planning on losing regardless. I've never seen a team dive so fast at the all-star break before.

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Except for the Nationals. Maybe it's something about that part of the country.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Now, if Baltimore's anything like Toronto, they'll win only when Boston wins and lose only when Boston loses.  The only ground the Jays have made up in the last week or so is when they haven't played and the Sox lost.

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No, I think the Orioles are just planning on losing regardless. I've never seen a team dive so fast at the all-star break before.

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Except for the Nationals. Maybe it's something about that part of the country.

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Big one for them tonight, closing the series with the Braves. A win keeps them within one of the NL East lead and gives them with a little breathing room in the wild card race.

 

Ryan Freel with five stolen bases last night? Swiped second four times? How in the hell!?

[CanadianChris 0]

Ryan Freel with five stolen bases last night? Swiped second four times? How in the hell!?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Easy, they were playing the Dodgers. Jason Phillips has the third-worst rate of throwing out runners in the majors. Only Piazza and Kendall are worse.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Is it just me or are the Braves like never on TBS anymore? Every time I want to watch a Braves game for whatever reason, they're always on Turner South or Fox Sports Atlanta that day.

[The Czech Republic 0]

No sooner do I say that than flip over to the superstation and there it is. Also, Skip Caray is calling the game! I enjoy his work.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Skip was great back when the Braves sucked.

[the pinjockey 0]

According to every rumor site (including Jayson Stark and baseballprospectus), it looks like the Phillies have offered/will offer Ryan Madson for Danys Baez. I swear to god, if they do that deal I am done with the Phillies until Ed Wade is fired and tarred and feathered in CF at CBP.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Interesting fact they just mentioned. Here's today's lineup

 

Furcal

Giles

C. Jones

A. Jones

LaRoche

McHann

Francoeur

Langerhans

Sosa

 

Of those nine guys, everyone but Jorge Sosa (acquired from Tampa Bay midseason) is a homegrown player who came up through the system. Compare that to my Cubs, where every position player has been acquired from another major league team between the beginning of '03 and the present.

[bob_barron 0]

I think Sosa was required in spring training.

 

Anyway, Cox FINALLY benches Kelly Johnson and lets Francoeur start.

 

The result: 2 HRS for Francouer. Cox said he's also going to start in the series against Pittsburgh which is great news.

 

This also moves Giles and Chipper back into the 2-3 spot in the lineup.

[devo 0]

The ESPN radio affiliate in Dallas is reporting that Alfonso Soriano has been traded for Mike Cameron and Lastings Milledge.

 

If the trade is confirmed, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the Mets will be getting a great second baseman for much less than Texas initially wanted. On the other, a second baseman is not what the Mets need. Marlon Anderson is more than capable of playing the position, and both Woodward and Cairo are perfectly acceptable backups. What's more, now you have to do something with Kaz Matsui.

 

If it goes through, I'll be pleased, but it's not a trade the Mets desperately needed to make. There are plenty of other, more urgent things they need to work on.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

According to every rumor site (including Jayson Stark and baseballprospectus), it looks like the Phillies have offered/will offer Ryan Madson for Danys Baez.  I swear to god, if they do that deal I am done with the Phillies until Ed Wade is fired and tarred and feathered in CF at CBP.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That would pretty much be one of the worst trades of 2005. Especially since you guys don't even need a closer right now.

[the pinjockey 0]

There is a thought floating around that if they get Baez, they can then trade Wagner because then they'll still have two "proven veteran closers". It doesn't make it any less retarded. They want to trade a young, inexpensive arm with an extremely high upside for an older, more expensive [big point considering how much they have 70 some million tied up in 11 players for next year] , pitching over his head closer that they don't need.

 

If they do this trade, I hope they trade Utley so I can break clean with no regrets.

 

Another note, apparently they offered Billy Wagner straight up for Juan fucking Pierre. That is the hard on this team has with Pierre, they would trade this best trading chip in years for him straight up. I hope Wade is fired before the offseason otherwise he is going to throw a boatload of case Pierre's way as a FA.

[Mik 0]

No way the Mets got Soriano for only Cameron and Milledge. Milledge has shown great flashes of talent, but he has been arrested and isn't exactly a sure thing. The Mets probably would have thrown in Yusmeiro Petit and one other player as well.

 

But if that's right, that's a bad trade for all of the other teams in the NL East.

 

And pinjockey, that's probably just crazy Philly sportsfan talk. There has been ZERO mention of that trade anywhere in Marlin land. The Marlins wouldn't do it anyway.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Agreed. Those rumored trades are quite stupid, but wait until they make a bad, official trade before rushing to judgement.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Nothing mentioned on the New York ESPN Radio station or WFAN about Soriano. All they are talking about is Larry Brown here. Haven't seen any articles either

[devo 0]

I know that exact trade is fairly unlikely, but I'm hoping for it anyway. The Mets don't need a second baseman badly enough to give up anymore.

[the pinjockey 0]

And pinjockey, that's probably just crazy Philly sportsfan talk. There has been ZERO mention of that trade anywhere in Marlin land. The Marlins wouldn't do it anyway.

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I will rephrase and say asked and note offered, just got in a really pissed off stretch there.

 

It was in Jayson Stark's latest chat:

 

Jon (PA): What is the truth behind the rumors that the Phillies are looking to acquire Danny Baez from Tampa and trade Billy Wagner to the Red Sox? If true, who are the players involved?

 

Jayson Stark: (1:08 PM ET ) The Phillies definitely made a run at Baez. And that's an obvious sign that they don't expect to have the money to afford Wagner next year, so they're lining up his replacement. But while acquiring someone like that would give them the freedom to trade Wagner or Urbina, the sense I get is that they've decided once and for all to keep Wagner. I've heard a lot of interesting stuff out there from other teams, though, that suggest they've thrown a lot of creative ideas out there. They talked to the White Sox and Red Sox about getting Burnett and then possibly flipping him for Wagner. And I've heard they asked Florida about Wagner for Juan Pierre. But they only wanted to trade him if there was some major impact coming back, and that guy isn't out there. And the other reason to dangle him is that they're out of prospects to trade, so their only chance to make a deal is to buy and sell at the same time. That's why Ryan Madson for Baez is so interesting. Don't know that it will happen, but it gives you insight into the Phillies' thinking.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I wouldn't mind the Phillies using Cole Hamels as trade bait, seeing as he always seems to be hurt.

 

And the Phillies aren't going anywhere this year, so I'd be OK w/ trading Wagner if the deal was good.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Pat, Ron, and the postgame guy all called today's Arizona-Cubs game their worst game of the season. It was pretty bad. Cubs are now batting under .200 with runners in scoring position, a lot of whom seem to reach third with 1 out, or none at all. There's no explanation for this terrible hitting in situations where it matters. Also, there were about nine walks issued in today's game. I'll hope that somebody motivates this team very soon because they have to win this homestand.

[Mik 0]

Maybe this game by D-Train will shut up all of the know-it-all-columnists who have been saying I told you so about this mini-slump.

 

You'd think they would learn that it takes more than two seasons to establish a pattern.

 

Any good statistician will tell you that n=2 just isn't high enough, but somehow Jay Mariotti and whoever else will swear that Dontrelle just "can't pitch in the second half."

 

Drives me crazy.

[sfaJack 0]

Sign hanging in left-center field at Minute Maid Park tonight: "BELTRAITOR"

 

Beltran was pretty heavily booed in his first AB and when he caught the third out in the bottom of the first. I really don't get that. The Astros aren't exactly hurting with Willy Tavares out there, and they saved $119 million.