This Week in Baseball 7/21 - 7/27

[Mike wanna be 0]

He deserves to be suspended for the year, whether it went in the stands or not. He had already hit his second batter so I am not sure why the ump hadn't tossed him.

 

The espn.com article talks about how a Peoria player broke his leg, but that wasn't during the brawl, it was actually when he and the pitcher collided earlier in the inning.

Why do fights lead to leg injuries? Bradley last year blew out a knee, a WNBA player hurt her knee, this guy broke his leg...

[Guest Smues]

Al's not around, so I'll defend Brad Lidge/using a closer in a non save situation before someone says anything. Despite the fact that Lidge just gave up five runs without getting an out, that's just an abberation on an otherwise great season. And yes it wasn't a save situation (Phils down 1-0 in the 9th) but using your best relief pitcher to keep the game close is not a bad idea. Yes it failed this time, but 9 times out of 10 Lidge shuts down the Braves and the Phils only need 1 run in the bottom half of the ninth.

 

 

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Its good to see the annual Orioles implosion has arrived on schedule.

 

Edit: Kevin Millar is getting the entire team to wear thongs on Sunday to break the Sunday losing streak..ugh

I think the fact that they were a sub-.500 team before this alleged implosion means you probably shouldn't take it too hard.

[naiwf 0]

That home plate ump in the Yanks/Sawx game must have had early dinner plans. I hadn't seen a strike zone that large since the glory days of Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Avery in Atlanta where they had 6 inches on each side of the plate.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

So much for those "the Pirates demands are too high" reports that were going around. There was actually a report that said those were being planted by other GMs to try to bring the Pirates demands down and that has to be the case. Tabata has potential to be a decent outfielder, but nothing else in the deal was even worth taking. Out of the other 3 players you basically get a 7th inning guy and maybe one 4/5 starter. Nothing you couldn't probably grab with the 2 sandwich picks you get for Marte at the end of the year. Maybe if the deal is just for Nady you take it, but this is clearly just same old Pirates under the new management.

Fun fact: I judge broadcasters by their ability to pronounce "Xavier." Z. There aren't any eggs involved.

 

Remember when Neal Huntington hit the scene and was like "according to my calculations, OPS, EqA, and VORP!" and everyone went "HOLY FUCKING SHIT BASEBALL JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE DAMN!" but everybody failed to note "wait, the Pirates still suck"? The Pirates still suck. Also, speaking of Huntington, the Indians kind of suck too. Here's what Eric Wedge has to show for his tenure:

 

2003: bad

2004: bad

2005: kinda-sorta almost might've won the wild card at the end possibly but ultimately didn't

2006: bad

2007: won one playoff series

2008: bad

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I wouldn't call Wedge a great manager or even a particularly good one, but it's hard to blame him for the team's futility this year. Two of their best hitters (Hafner and Martinez) have missed almost the entire season and had injuries sapping their power when they weren't on the DL. And they've been without their second best starter, although I guess Carmona is by default their best starter now that CC is gone.

 

Todd Jones sucks by the way. It's not picnic being a Cubs fan, but to see Jones put on his tightrope walking act each time he appears is probably the causing more than a few gray hairs in the Motor City.

[Bored 0]

A's reliever Brad Ziegler tied a Major League record tonight by beginning his career with 25 scoreless innings.

 

In other news, the A's are really fucking awful.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

I wasn't so much attributing the Tribe's underachievement to Eric Wedge so much as just using his tenure to designate the current phase of the Cleveland Indians: after the superstars left and the organization committed to building from within and cheaply. I could've been clearer on that. Still, my point stands, that in spite of some dazzlingly low cost-per-win rates and a lot of talent coming through the ranks, they've very little to show for it in the post-Thome years. They've never gone balls-out at the deadline to win it all any given year, they've never torn the whole damn thing down, they've never convinced me that they were really committed to snatching that third chair on the dais next to the Booyah Network's teams and never letting go. I can't tell if the Indians are tortoise-slow or just really complacent.

[MFer 0]

I wouldn't call Wedge a great manager or even a particularly good one, but it's hard to blame him for the team's futility this year. Two of their best hitters (Hafner and Martinez) have missed almost the entire season and had injuries sapping their power when they weren't on the DL. And they've been without their second best starter, although I guess Carmona is by default their best starter now that CC is gone.

 

Todd Jones sucks by the way. It's not picnic being a Cubs fan, but to see Jones put on his tightrope walking act each time he appears is probably the causing more than a few gray hairs in the Motor City.

 

No kidding...

 

I didn't get to see the game, but this loss hurts big-time. Jones has saved 19 outta 22, which isn't too bad, but he's also got an ERA of 5 and a WHIP above 1.5. He's basically just throwing BP out there and hoping that he gets lucky. There's a reason why they call him "The Roller Coaster". Fans are clamoring for Zumaya to be the closer but he hasn't looked good lately. Maybe Leyland should give Rodney a shot (he's also prone to inconsistency but has been pitching great recently).

[Annabelle 0]

both zumaya and rodney are perfect in their roles. they walk a shit load of batters. i cant see them as closers. todd jones is the worst. there are a handful of games that tiger fans will look back upon that are the reason why their team didn't make the playoffs. this is one of them. just brutal.

 

in other news, cabrera is heating up. i'm getting tired of people calling him a disappointment. even if dontrelle doesn't pitch again, trading miller and maybin plus a few fringe players for just cabrera is worth it in the long run. i was never sold on miller. and maybin hasn't developed as quickly or as well as many had predicted.

[Guest]

The Dodgers traded for Casey Blake. We really needed a third baseman, so I'm glad. I know Santana's been playing outstanding at San Bernardino, but we've already got our catcher. Not that I'm saying we should've traded him for Casey Blake, but still, we needed a third baseman.

[jimmy no nose 0]

It's official.

 

BOSTON -- The Yankees moved on Friday to upgrade their club for a push at the postseason, acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and left-handed reliever Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for four Minor Leaguers.

 

MLB.com has learned that the Yankees will part with talented right-field prospect Jose Tabata, plus three pitchers -- right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and George Kontos and left-hander Phil Coke.

According to today's reports that actually turns out to not be the deal. Yankees still get Marte and Nady, obviously, and the Pirates get Tabata and Ohlendorf, but the other two pitchers are now reported as being Jeff Carstens, and Daniel McCutchen. I don't know what happened between yesterday and today, but I'm assuming it's a new Pirate strategy where they announce a terrible, terrible deal, then make it a little better. If they do this then people will freak out on initial reaction, but then once they've exhausted their energies in bashing the wrong deal they are left to look instead at the positives of the players they actually end up receiving when compared to the initial report.

[Mik 0]

I think the coolest part of Hanley Ramirez's extension is that he finally said "fuck it" and bought a sweet ass teal glove. It's awesome.

 

Cubs first base coach and Lou just got tossed for arguing an out call at first base in the 9th. He looked out to me.

 

2-2 in the 9th.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

DeRosa beat the throw by a split second, but apparently tie goes to the All-Star. Sliding headfirst doesn't help the cause, either.

 

But let me tell you, those super-close game-changing calls on the basepaths are exactly why we need instant replay to determine home runs.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

FWIW, the ump who tossed Lou after that play is the same jackass who tossed him in that game against the White Sox.

 

The Cubs, meanwhile, have resorted to the offensive approach that scoring is not possible without the solo home run.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Dodgers traded for Casey Blake. We really needed a third baseman, so I'm glad. I know Santana's been playing outstanding at San Bernardino, but we've already got our catcher. Not that I'm saying we should've traded him for Casey Blake, but still, we needed a third baseman.

Too bad the Dodgers didn't have anyone at AAA who could take the job.

 

I don't see why the Pirates are getting criticized for their trade. Xavier Nady is hitting .330. That's nearly 50 points better than his career average, and he's 29 years old. To take an overachieving player and flip him for an underachieving prospect seems like the perfect way to maximize value. I mean seriously, if we discussed this trade last year, Yankee fans would burst out laughing.

 

Karstens and Ohlendorf are the same type, 25 year old right handers who can start or relieve, have great minor league numbers but poor major league outings. Subtract the majors and that gives you McCutchen as well. For a team as desperate for starting pitching as the Bucs, adding pitching depth is tremendous. This move could also allow the Pirates to slide Nate McLouth to right and call up prospect Andrew McCutchen to take over center. I'd say it's a good trade for both clubs. The Pirates improve their team right now, while the Yankees give up some of their depth.

 

 

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Cards have rid of Anthony Reyes, who goes to the Tribe in exchange for an AA player.

 

Maybe Reyes can become something close to the pitcher he was pegged to be before Duncan got a hold of him.

[jimmy no nose 0]

I like the Indians move to take Reyes. I thought he might end up commanding a bit more just because I thought more teams would be interested in seeing if something was still there. Perdomo looks like he could turn out into a pretty decent reliever though, so the Cardinals may be pleased with the deal.

 

I'm assuming the Yankees made Xavier Nady shave his not quite a beard when he joined the team. They still let Giambi walk around with that ridiculous mustache though.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Goddamn Fox. No Phillies/Braves game today thanks to both local affiliates picking up the Sox/Yankee game instead. The Phils came back from a 9-3 deficit to take a 10-9 lead in the fifth inning, already the craziest game of the year. The silver lining is that Harry Kalas is doing the radio call.

[Guest]

The Dodgers traded for Casey Blake. We really needed a third baseman, so I'm glad. I know Santana's been playing outstanding at San Bernardino, but we've already got our catcher. Not that I'm saying we should've traded him for Casey Blake, but still, we needed a third baseman.

Too bad the Dodgers didn't have anyone at AAA who could take the job.

.203/.319/.322

 

Not ready.

[naiwf 0]

Brandon Knight gave up a 4 spot to the Cards in the 1st inning and then fell down the stairs trying to get off of the field. No wonder he's almost 33 and making his first major league start. At least we'll probably never see him again.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Dodgers traded for Casey Blake. We really needed a third baseman, so I'm glad. I know Santana's been playing outstanding at San Bernardino, but we've already got our catcher. Not that I'm saying we should've traded him for Casey Blake, but still, we needed a third baseman.

Too bad the Dodgers didn't have anyone at AAA who could take the job.

.203/.319/.322

 

Not ready.

In 59 at bats. Casey Blake is an upgrade, but LaRoche should have had an extended look by now.

[Guest]

We can give him that next season, it's too late now. No time to sit around and wait.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

I like the Indians move to take Reyes. I thought he might end up commanding a bit more just because I thought more teams would be interested in seeing if something was still there. Perdomo looks like he could turn out into a pretty decent reliever though, so the Cardinals may be pleased with the deal.

 

I'm assuming the Yankees made Xavier Nady shave his not quite a beard when he joined the team. They still let Giambi walk around with that ridiculous mustache though.

 

Staches don't apply to the facial hair rule.

 

 

"Hi"

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Apparently the Yankees are about to get Jarrod Washburn.

[the max 0]

Mattingly! I told you to trim those sideburns! GO HOME, YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM!! FOR GOOD!!

[naiwf 0]

Apparently the Yankees are about to get Jarrod Washburn.

 

I'm sure they won't give up anything to get him either.

 

The right handers in the Mets bullpen have reverted to their drizzling shits status of late and I'm sure they won't be able to bolster it at all since we have nothing to trade.

[At Home 0]

Angels are #1 in the game. Just wanted to say that.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Apparently the Yankees are about to get Jarrod Washburn.

 

I'm sure they won't give up anything to get him either.

 

The right handers in the Mets bullpen have reverted to their drizzling shits status of late and I'm sure they won't be able to bolster it at all since we have nothing to trade.

 

If the Mets can acquire anything of value with Fernando Martinez, they should do it. He's injured often, and probably isn't in fact the best prospect in the system (Wilmer Flores is tearing the cover off the ball in Kingsport and is younger than me.) If Huston Street or Brian Fuentes can be had for Fernando Martinez, it's probably the right move.

 

Having said that, I'd much rather go after a corner outfield bat than a reliever. Calm down, the bullpen has been brilliant as of late. Brandon Knight had to make a spot start, so the bullpen had to cover a lot of innings. A crappy game like that is going to happen. Corner outfield is a much more pressing need.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

No way would I ever endorse trading my team's top prospect for a relief pitcher.