This Week in Baseball 7/28 - 8/3

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I guess the Brewers are content to go for the Wild Card spot, and that's it.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'm suddenly not so convinced the NL WC is coming out of the Central. The rejuvenated Mets have made for a revitalized race in the East, so it's not out of the question that either they or the Phillies take the WC.

 

I'm very impressed with the Cubs, though. Last night's victory can be attributed to shoddy Brewer fundamentals, but they over-matched the Brewers tonight. Zambrano came through and there were contributions from the Cubs' lineup up and down. They need to win at least one more game in the series, though. It's excellent they picked up both games against Milwaukee's aces, but winning the series or straight up sweeping them would send quite the message.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

A note from Jim Callis of Baseball America in the "Ask BA" column. I personally still am interested in Olympic baseball (it IS baseball after all), but I agree with his opinions. The new rules are ridiculous.

 

I witnessed a lot of crazy things when I covered the international baseball beat for Baseball America from 1989-97, and I never thought I'd see anything more ridiculous than a play in the 1990 Goodwill Games. Mexico wanted to end a game against the Soviet Union via the mercy rule, so shortstop Javier Acosta tried to steal home. Outfielder David Trejo took a full swing anyway, almost decapitating Acosta while hitting a grounder to second base. Acosta's slide took out Trejo at the plate, so the Soviets threw him out at first base while he lay on his back in the batter's box.

 

But now that absurdity has been topped. The International Baseball Federation has adopted a speed-up rule that will be used in international competition, starting with the Beijing Olympics. Beginning in the 11th inning, teams will open each frame with runners on first and second base. Additionally, to start the 11th inning, clubs can decide where they want to begin in the batting order (though they won't be able to further reset the order in later innings).

 

"The upcoming Beijing Olympic competition may be our last unless we are successful in adding the sport back to the Olympic program for the 2016 Games," IBAF president Dr. Harvey W. Schiller said. "We must demonstrate to the International Olympic Committee not only does our game belong alongside the other great sports of the world, but our sport is manageable from a television and operational standpoint."

 

This asinine rule is going to restore baseball's status as an Olympic sport? I had little interest in watching Olympic baseball, and I have even less now.

 

What the fuck.

 

That's my only reaction to that! We wouldn't even do stupid shit like that playing wiffle ball in my backyard. What the fuck.

[Mike wanna be 0]

Teixeira to the Angels. Kudos to the Braves for being honest and admitting they're rebuilding instead of trying to bullshit everyone into thinking they made the move to increase their chances this season.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Harvey Schiller was Eric Bischoff's boss. For a doctor of whatever, he isn't very bright. The new rules are ridiculous.

 

John Lackey had a no hitter till the 9th inning. He was so close to finishing the game with no hits.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Yeah, most guys who lose a no-hitter in the ninth were so close to finishing the game with no hits.

[CanadianChris 0]

HOLY CRAP

 

D-Cab got thrown out for hitting ARod..he didnt hit him intentionally..damnit

For the love of God, these stupid "nicknames" need to be stopped. I had to think for a couple of minutes as to who "D-Cab" even was.

[jimmy no nose 0]

Jason Bay to Tampa is looking more and more like it happens before the deadline. If it ends up going down they probably give up SS Reid Brignac, a starter not named David Price or Wade Davis, and probably something else. I don't see much reason for Tampa not to do what it takes to get this deal done since they're pretty stacked at SS and have a ton of pitchers who the Pirates would probably be interested in. It should keep them alive in the AL East battle, not that they wouldn't be anyway.

[A Happy Medium 0]

I can't wait for J-Bay and E-Long to march onto the same field together!

[Brett Favre 0]

An outfield of C-Craw, B-Up, and J-Bay may be the most talented in the majors.

[Guest]

Stop with that shit

 

I hate all these fucking nicknames aSFMASOFMAOSFMASOFMASOFMASOFMASOfm,a

[Guest The Elements of Style]

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Ivan Rodriguez has been traded, but does not report to whom he's been traded. Most likely the Yankees with Posada out?

[MFer 0]

i think its clear that the tigers need to be sellers. of course, i'd love to be proven wrong, but i don't see them coming close to sniffing the playoffs. if they can get anything worthwhile for renteria, pudge, kenny rogers, nate robertson, sheffield, or even the abysmal todd jones (a bag of balls?) they should pull the trigger. no doubt. beef up for the next few years.

I guess they are sellers, cuz they just traded Pudge to the Yankees for Farnsworth.

[naiwf 0]

Pudge Rodriguez to the Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth. WTF? I guess the old days of everyone bending over and taking it in the ass so the Yankees can win playoff games has returned.

[Brett Favre 0]

Nooooooo.

 

I mean our bullpen is pretty good....but he was pretty good as an 8th inning guy, and if he walked after this year we were going to get a pick for him.

 

Well, Pudge is a FA after this year so we may get a pick for him. It looks like Bruney can replace Farnsworth, so it's a good deal.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Nooooooo.

 

I mean our bullpen is pretty good....but he was pretty good as an 8th inning guy, and if he walked after this year we were going to get a pick for him.

What's with Yankee fans and fretting their eighth inning guys?

 

Joking. The Yankees' bullpen is really in good shape yet with Veras, Ramirez and Robertson. This is an odd trade. The Yankees' had a glaring weakness at catcher, acquiring Pudge makes sense. But both teams dealt players in their last seasons. The Tigers get two months of a reliever in exchange for two months of a catcher. You'd think they would at least get a prospect in the swap.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Wow...definitely didn't see that one coming.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

Rumor out of Cincinnati is that Corey Patterson is banging the boss's daughter...Dusty Baker's daughter, that is. So I guess he's the Reds' Triple H, but in Corey's case, more like Triple K.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I guess the Tigers figure they need more stability in the bullpen. As someone who watched Farnsworth for many years in Chicago, I don't think he's that stability. But whatever. Pudge is pretty lousy now so it isn't like the Tigers are losing a huge part of their offense.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I forgot about the two draft picks the Tigers are now losing out on for two months of Farnsworth.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

Why am I seriously being told that Manny Ramirez could be sent to Miami? The Red Sox are so retarded sometimes.

[Cartman 0]

Ok maybe I was wrong...Apparently rumor has it that Manny Ramirez actually signed a waiver for his No Trade Clause. Why bother unless you already are close to a deal? This sucks.

 

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I guess the Tigers figure they need more stability in the bullpen. As someone who watched Farnsworth for many years in Chicago, I don't think he's that stability. But whatever. Pudge is pretty lousy now so it isn't like the Tigers are losing a huge part of their offense.

Farnsworth had a fine half-season in Detroit in '05. He's well suited for that park, remember they have deep power alleys.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

On an unrelated note, I help my uncle install carpet and this morning we working on a young couple's home. I was talking about last night's game with my uncle and the guy overheard us and we got to talking a bit about baseball. Turns out he pitched in college and was even drafted in the fifth round by the Brewers (not sure what year, but he's 31), but torn his rotator cuff. Pretty interesting to randomly meet someone who got drafted, let alone by the Brewers.

[Guest The Elements of Style]

I don't get how it is that Manny Ramirez acts like a horse's ass pretty much all day, every day, and yet the Red Sox pick completely arbitrary points in time to throw up their hands and go "OKAY THAT'S IT NOW YOU'VE DONE IT" and try to get rid of him ultimately to the detriment of the team. It's been going on like this for years. They're no certainty for the playoffs as it stands, and trading away one of their best hitters does not make them a certainty. Avast, matey! To Bledsoe Island with ye!

[Cartman 0]

It really is sickening. I have always been a huge manny fanboy whether he is a slacker and a clown or not. Guy is a fuckin Hall of Famer and one of THE best hitters EVER and people around here just get the pitchforks and torches ready.

[At Home 0]

Hey, the Angels are still the MLB leaders. Frankie Rodriguez is gonna set the record for most saves in a season. He has 44 saves already. Fuck, man.

[Annabelle 0]

I guess the Tigers figure they need more stability in the bullpen. As someone who watched Farnsworth for many years in Chicago, I don't think he's that stability. But whatever. Pudge is pretty lousy now so it isn't like the Tigers are losing a huge part of their offense.

i would have expect a bit more for pudge. not lots, but a little. he was fairly useless in the end anyway, inge actually may be a defensive upgrade. i have this horrible sickening feeling the tigers are gonna trade for greg zaun. ugh.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I forgot about the two draft picks the Tigers are now losing out on for two months of Farnsworth.

 

To get draft picks you have to offer arbitration. There's no way the Yankees consider doing something that stupid. You can't risk paying $13 million plus for a back-up catcher with no on-base skills or power.

 

I don't get how it is that Manny Ramirez acts like a horse's ass pretty much all day, every day, and yet the Red Sox pick completely arbitrary points in time to throw up their hands and go "OKAY THAT'S IT NOW YOU'VE DONE IT" and try to get rid of him ultimately to the detriment of the team. It's been going on like this for years. They're no certainty for the playoffs as it stands, and trading away one of their best hitters does not make them a certainty. Avast, matey! To Bledsoe Island with ye!

 

That's an easy point to make hanging out in your Cubs world, but as someone who follows the Sox every day, let me just say that Manny can go fuck himself. I know he's an all-world hitter, but he also plays abysmal defense, doesn't hustle for shit, pushes down sixty-year old travelling secretaries and fakes "knee injuries" to get out of facing good pitchers. I've had enough of it. For $20 million a year he's not worth these headaches.

 

Manny is gone at the end of the year anyways. Trade him now for whatever you can get. Pay his salary or whatever. Just move on from this mess.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Holy !#%^, Cheech is back!

 

And I'd wait until the Sox actually make a bad Manny trade before eviscerating them.