2009 MLB Trade Deadline Odds

July 2009

There has been a tremendous amount of trading leading up to the trade deadline, but make no mistake about it, there are plenty of big names left. I handicapped some of the major players odds of being traded and let the speculation begin: who will be traded and where?

Roy Halladay (15-1): Simply put, the Jays have not been "wowed" by any offer for Halladay so far and talks seem to have died out. However, both the Red Sox, Rangers, and the Dodgers have the pieces to acquire Halladay, but I'm doubtful they're willing to part with their best prospects. The deal that everyone thought would happen, now appears unlikely.

Victor Martinez (3-1): After trading Cliff Lee to the Phillies, everyone assumed that Martinez would be the next to go. However, as I went over yesterday, there is not much of a market out there for Martinez right now and there are very few teams that are willing to part with their top prospects. However, the Indians should be pretty motivated to move Martinez, who could be an interesting fit in Boston.

Jarrod Washburn (12-1): Even though I think it would make sense for the Mariners to try and move Washburn, the Mariners don't seem motivated to move Washburn at the moment. The acquisition of Jack Wilson and Ian Snell hints that the Mariners are not completely waving the white flag on 2009, but the Mariners chances of making the playoffs right now are pretty slim.

Orlando Cabrera (2-1): He would make a great fit with the Twins, who have lobbied for the front office to pick him up. Cabrera is a free agent at the end of the season and might be a type A free agent, which could give the A's some incentive to keep him. However, would the Athletics seriously think about offering him arbitration? I doubt it.

Nick Johnson (8-1): The market for Johnson has never developed like many thought it would. However, Johnson is a productive player and a free agent at the end of the season while the Nationals need all the young pieces they can get. It makes sense for the Nationals to deal Johnson.

Scott Rolen (20-1): Too much money owed and no perfect match in sight.

Adrian Gonzalez (25-1): Unless the Red Sox decide to go all in to get him, I don't see a fit for Gonzalez right now. His salary and power make him a very valuable asset for the Padres. It wouldn't surprise me to see him traded in the offseason.

Matt Capps (8-1): Only because the Pirates have traded away almost all of their commodities already...why not trade one more?

Heath Bell (6-1): Considering that the Padres are going nowhere, it would make sense for them to see what they can get for their all-star closer. The asking price on Bell will be high, but I could see a team like the Marlins or Rays making a move to pick up Bell. Stay tuned on this one.

Others who could be on the move: Chad Qualls, Joe Beimel, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Marco Scutaro

The Mysterious Thunderbird Photo

July 2009

During my search for some unsolved mysteries in Arizona, I came across this bizarre photo. This mystery photo is of a popularly known “Thunderbird” with a mysterious creature captured near the town of Tombstone.

In April of 1890, two cowboys noticed an immense flying creature, while in the Arizona desert. This creature’s body was about 92 feet long and was smooth like a serpent. It had huge wings, about a 160 foot wingspan, featherless and resembling bat’s wings. It also had two clawed feet, with a face of an alligator. They followed it on horseback until the horses were too afraid to continue, and then chased it on foot. It kept landing and taking off until the cowboys shot it full of bullets with their riffles, and finally killed it. Then the cowboys cut off a piece of the wing and brought it to Tombstone. At least this is how one of the stories were told.

Was this a true story or just an urban legend? The story was presumed to be written in an April 1892 issue of the Tombstone newspaper, the Epitaph. It was also told that a photo of a enormous bird was seen nailed to a wall. Since many tall tales have been spun in newspapers during this distinctive time in history, it’s hard to say whether it is a true story or just folklore. Employees working for the Epitaph search through many old issues of the newspaper and found no such photo. The question everyone is pondering, is the photo real? Many have remembered seeing the elusive “Thunderbird Photo” but no one seems to know where it is. Some feel that the photo posted above has been tampered with and the dead creature was added in. Also, according to the stories told, two men supposed to have found and killed the bird-like creature, but six men are in the photo. There is lots of mystery surrounding the photo, its existence and whereabouts, and the strange story that goes with it.

This is an unusual one indeed. If you know anything about this story, whether it is true or not, I would love to hear more.
~~Julie~~

David Ortiz On Alex Rodriguez and Steroids

July 2009

Probably the most telling quote from Ortiz from this past Feburary when he commented on the Alex Rodriguez's admission to using steroids. As we all know, it was discovered today that David Ortiz was on the list of steroid users from 2003.

ESPN.com:

Alex Rodriguez has said he used banned substances between 2001-03, when he was with the Texas Rangers.

Ortiz said that at that time, "I would say it was certainly low, the percentage that wasn't using it. Like he said in the interview [with ESPN], that was what was goingaround the league at the time."

He praised Rodriguez for saying he used banned substances and said that after 2003, "he's been playing clean and he still produced and he's still been the best player in the game. So if I'm a fan and I had to judge the guy, I would put that in the past and move forward."

No one knows how long Ortiz has been clean for, but this is a tough pill for Red Sox fans to swallow. Not just Manny, but Papi too. Who knows if these guys were using during their magical 2004 World Series run. Even though, as the kids say, "they were all doing it", there is no doubt that this leaves a sickening taste in the mouths of Red Sox fans. It will be very difficult for Sox fans to simply move on, especially with Ortiz and the Red Sox struggling at the moment.

The Market For Victor Martinez

July 2009

After yesterday's trade of Cliff Lee, it's widely assumed around baseball that the Indians are now looking to move Martinez, who is signed through 2010. Martinez is one of the premier catchers in all of baseball and has bounced back from a injury plagued 2008 to hit 15 HR with 67 RBI and 56 runs scored.

Obviously its going to take quite a package to land Martinez. What teams should/could be interested in Cleveland's all star catcher? Let's take a look:

Red Sox: This is where all the hot rumors have been so far. The Red Sox need a quality hitter in the middle of the lineup and Martinez would instantly become one of the best hitters they have. My only question is this: would Martinez catch? Obviously, he's not going to play 1st with Youk and LaRoche there, but will he really supplant Varitek? Is that a smart move even with 'Tek's offensive struggles?

Rays: I would love to see Martinez land here and supplant the struggling Dioner Navarro, but I'm doubtful that this would happen. Martinez would fit in perfectly with this lineup and finally provide Evan Longoria with some much needed protection.

Angels: Complete speculation on my part here. If the Angels don't feel secure with Vladimir Guerrero returning to his top form this season, then Martinez could become an attractive option here. The Angels have been reluctant to trade their top prospects over the years, which makes a match here look even less likely.

The Field: Who else can really make a play for this guy?

The Giants? Nope.

The Mets? I wish.

The Rangers? Doubt it.

Analysis:Unless the Red Sox or another team steps up to the plate, the Indians might have a tough time finding a suitable trade partner for Martinez. Might they be better off waiting until the offseason (when more teams should be interested) to trade Martinez?

Only time will tell.

Why Cliff Lee And The Phillies Are A Great Fit

July 2009

If you're a Phillies fan, there are plenty of reasons to like the acquisition of Cliff Lee.

1. He's an ace

2. Keep Kyle Drabek and Domenick Brown

3. He's signed through 2010...

4. ...at a reasonable rate

5. Hamels and Lee are a great 1-2 punch

6. The Phillies are now as good as anyone on paper

7. Keep JA Happ

8. Keep Michael Taylor

9. Ben Francisco is a solid right handed bat (even if he's a weak defender)

10. October

But you know why I like it: because Lee does not give up home runs. In 152 innings this season, Lee has only given up 10 home runs and in 223 innings last season, Lee only gave up 12 home runs.

In addition, according to fangraphs, Lee's flyball % this season is a very manageable 35% and his HR/FB rate is only 5.8% this season.

Why are home runs and flyballs so important with Lee? Because the Phillies play in the hitter friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark, which is a bandbox second to only the new Yankee Stadium. It's vital that the Phillies have pitchers, who are not prone to the longball because that type of pitcher has a high probability of getting hit hard in Citizens Bank Park.

There is no guarantee that these stats will lead to wins for Lee, but this a great risk for the Phillies and gives them a deep rotation to balance out a strong and balanced offense.

Royals Writers Are Not Fans Of Hairy Trey Hillman

July 2009

Hungry for wins and sick after so many losses and inexplicable baseball, two Royals beat writers have figured out the Royals winning percentage based on Trey Hillman's facial hair in an effort to try and right the ship!

Yes, you read that right.

Here is the article, which will make the fine gentlemen at the American Mustache Institute rather upset:

Hillman facial hair winning percentage

Moral of the story: clean shave=wins?

It can't be.

Could Four Games In July Change The Mets Season?

July 2009

It's been really easy to bash the Mets this season. Between all the injuries, the Luis Castillo dropped pop up, the lack of fundamental baseball, and all the chaos in the front office; the Mets have become an easy target for ridicule. And rightfully so.

But don't look now! Because here come the Mets!

Sort of.

After last night's 4-0 victory over the wild card leading Rockies, the Mets now sit 5.5 games out of the wild card in the National League. For a team that has experienced so much during the first 100 games of the season, being this close to a playoff spot is actually somewhat of an achievement.

However, keep in mind that there are still seven teams ahead of the Mets in the wild card chase. Even though 5.5 games is a very manageable total, having so many teams ahead of the Mets greatly decreases the odds of the Mets actually winning the wild card. But hey, anything can happen.

And it's with that spirit in mind that I type this piece. The Mets still have another two games left against the Rockies, who are now tied for the wild card card, can actually pull within 3.5 games of the wild card if everything falls in their favor. Now I'll admit that the odds of this happening are very small, but the idea that this can happen is absurd.

But let's take a step back for a moment. Let's say the Mets are 4.5-5.5 games out at the deadline; what should Omar Minaya (assuming he is the GM) do? Should the Mets at least explore the trade market? Is it worth it? Or should the Mets simply stick with what they got and hope to the baseball Gods that someone in the Beltran-Delgado-Reyes trio comes back healthy?

The biggest problem for the Mets is that even if they do acquire someone, will the player have a big enough impact to make the Mets relevant in 2009? And what exactly do the Mets have to give up?

Like always, the Mets seem bring about more questions than answers.

Thoughts?

Morning Photo: Talkin' Baseball With Kid Rock and Terry Francona

July 2009

I would pay big bucks to hear how this conversation went down.

Is it weird that Francona is talking to Kid Rock during a game?

Toronto Blue Jays' SP Roy Halladay Pictures

July 2009

Seattle Mariners' Jarrod Washburn Best Pictures

July 2009

Should the Mets Fire Omar Minaya? (Part II)

July 2009

Only a few days ago, we discussed whether or not the Mets should fire GM Omar Minaya in light of the Mets disappointing campaign so far and dysfunction of Tony Bernazard. While the argument to fire Omar was certainly compelling, I reached the conclusion that the Mets should give Minaya another year to right the ship.

Verdict: I say no. I've been as frustrated by the Mets as anyone, but I just cannot bring myself to fire Minaya with so many injuries hanging over his head. I think he deserves another year (at least) to right the ship.

However, after today's incident with Adam Rubin, it looks Minaya is steering the Mets sinking ship right into an iceberg. Minaya's attack on Rubin was uncalled for, childish, outlandish, repulsive, and downright shocking. I cringe every time I watch the replay of the Mets GM basically accusing the Mets best beat writer of scheming to get Tony Bernazard fired so that he could eventually take the position.

Downright pathetic.

The worst part of this whole ordeal for me is that this is the same old Mets. Another day, another drama. What I liked so much about Omar initially was that he was a breath of fresh air and made me forget about the chaotic Mets of old.

From Willie Randolph last year to Adam Rubin this year, Minaya's behavior and lack of understanding has undermined the Mets performance on the field.

Obviously, the Minaya honeymoon seems like a decade ago. The chaos is back. The fans' embarrassment is back. Same old Mets.

It's difficult for me to make the case right now that the Mets should NOT fire Omar Minaya. The incident embarrassed the franchise and exposed the front office as crazier and more dysfunctional than all of us thought. This is not the way a professional organization should be run. Period. No matter what the Mets do from here on out, it will be difficult for the Mets to justify keeping Minaya around given how much he has embarrassed the organization and failed to right the sinking ship.

(Note: I say embarrased over and over again in this piece. As a Met fan, you get the idea how I feel about this situation.)

Memo To Mike Rizzo: Trade. Trade. Trade

July 2009

Buster Olney's blog provides us with this interesting quote about the Nationals and the trade deadline:

"Even Washington is under pressure to win as many games as they can. I feel for Mike Rizzo [the acting GM], because everybody in the media wants him to dump major league players, and he's in a position where if he trades Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn, he might be looking at a 42- to 45-win season. That's hard to live down, no matter how you get there. It's hard to give up."

Now look, no one likes to lose. Losing sucks. The 2009 Nationals have made losing an art form. With 60 games left in the season, the Nationals have zero chance at making the playoffs and almost zero chance of salvaging their season. The season has been a disaster, plain and simple.

The Nationals sole focus for the rest of the season should be on finding pieces for 2010 and beyond. Forget about 2009. The season is a wash as is. In the end, almost no one will remember whether or not the Nationals win 42 or 48 games in 2009. What people will remember is that the 2009 Nationals sucked and that baseball in Washington has failed in so many ways.

(Note: Obviously, the Nationals need to avoid losing 120+ games. People WILL remember if the Nationals set a record. They have 30 wins right now, so I would say that the odds of the Nats winning less than 10 games down the stretch is not high.)

Nationals fans need hope that better days are coming. They need to believe that the horror days of Jim Bowden are over. Maybe, just maybe, the Nationals can play quality baseball in the future and actually fill up the new stadium that DC fought so hard to get.

And that's where the trade deadline comes in. The idea is simple: the Nationals need to trade whatever movable veteran pieces they have and in return, get back as many potentially useful pieces as possible. If the Nationals refuse to make a trade because they want to prevent losing a certain number of games, then Mike Rizzo should not be the GM. The focus for the Nationals HAS TO BE THE FUTURE. If the move can potentially benefit the Nationals future, then Rizzo should pull the trigger.

And finally, I don't think Mike Rizzo would have a tough time in the future if the Nationals lose 115+ games. Baseball people will remember this club as the final disaster of the Jim Bowden era and Rizzo cannot and should not be judged on his performance until the end of next season at the earliest.

The Middle Of The Mariners Lineup Invokes Fear In No One

July 2009

Not exactly murderer's row:

3. Ken Griffey Jr .211

4. Chris Shelton .182

5. Jack Hanahan .199

I got my money on Toronto...even with King Felix starting.

Cottage #4: Mummified Body in Bathtub

July 2009

There are people that enter in our lives and for some reason become like family who are there for every big event and holiday. In my family it was Audrey. Audrey was like a Grandmother that I never knew and was around every Thanksgiving and Christmas for the family’s party. She made sure that all the grandchildren got a dollar or two, wrapped around a candy cane. For April, it was Ronald.

After April and her sister moved out of the house on the corner, their Mother decided to downsize into a smaller place. She found a two bedroom cottage on a one acre lot a few blocks away from the house they were renting. This lot also had three other cottages that were rented out to others. One of the renters was Ronald. After a few months of living in the cottage, April’s mother heard a quiet knock at the door. She opened the door a saw this tall, thin, unassuming man, with scruffy beard standing there. He told her that his name was Ronald and he lived in cottage 4. After that initial meeting, Ronald came over many mornings having coffee, muffins or some other breakfast meal. Their conversations were of general subjects, never anything personal. Ronald never like talking about his personal life, especially any male companions that have been in his life or any he may be seeing at the time. He always came to her mother’s cottage and never invited her over to visit his. She never questioned why nor had any reason to suspect anything wrong. Even with that, they still had a special friendship. April and her sister got used to seeing Ronald at their mother’s place every time they came to visit. He was like an uncle to them. On Christmas morning, the girls would sleep in the spare room while Ronald slept on the couch. This friendship was strong for over two years.

One day, out of the blue, Ronald asked April, her mother and sister to start calling him Harry. He explained that it was his middle name and most people know him by that name. They thought it was an odd request for him to make since they have known him as Ronald for over two years. They told him that they would continue calling him Ronald because changing things now would be just plain weird. Shortly afterwards, Ronald started displaying very odd behavior and finally just disappeared without a trace.

April’s mother moved months later without ever knowing what happened. One evening she got a visit from the local police asking questions about Harry. She was worried and wanted to know if he was alright or if he did something wrong. They needed to know any information Harry may have told her because he was a person of interest in an investigation. She mentioned that she referred to him as Ronald and that he never talked about his personal life. She also told them that she never was in his cottage. She gave them as much information as she could remember with some questions of her own. Why the police was interested in Ronald or rather Harry?

In February of 2008, the Phoenix police responded to a call to the address of Ronald’s cottage. The owners were in cottage #4 to clean it out and found a mummified body in the bathtub. They rented this cottage out to an adult male in 1995. They received regular rent payments from 1995 to the summer of 2007, when the payment suddenly stopped. After briefly visiting the cottage and finding it abandoned, they did nothing at that time thinking that the owner would return for his things. They never entered the premises at that time either. But after not receiving any payments after that, they went in the cottage to inspect its conditions. They found it to be stacked from floor to ceiling with trash, personal items and was in extremely deplorable conditions. With the assistance of others, the owners started removing the trash. When they reached the bathtub, they found it covered with plywood and plastic. When they removed the wood and plastic, they found it filled with dirt and sand. As soon as they started removing the dirt, a human leg was exposed and the police were called.

The entire bathtub was removed along with the mummified body and dirt. Upon examination they found that the person buried in the tub had been dead for a number of years and they labeled the death as “unknown”. They are not positive that the body is of the original renter, Ronald, or if it could be someone else. Harry apparently took over Ronald's identity, cashed his checks and lived with his dead body for years. There are so many questions such as, how did they know each other and how did Ronald, or whoever that body belonged to, die? Was he murdered or just died of natural causes? Harry is only a person of interest at this time, with his whereabouts still unknown to this day.

This story was all over the local news in Phoenix and around the world. Because the case is still unsolved, the names of Ronald and Harry have been changed for that reason.

Above is an artist drawing of what Harry looked like.

~~Julie~~

Who Ya Got?

July 2009

Finally! The Baseball version of Billie Jean King v. Bobby Riggs! Sort of.

Who is better at softball? Women or men?

That's the overheated way to look at the "Battle of the Sexes" that will play out Monday night at Alexian Field between the Schaumburg Flyers baseball club, of the independent Northern League, and the Chicago Bandits, of National Pro FastPitch softball. Another way to look at it is that two pro teams that normally toil in the shadow of Chicago's big-time franchises have hit upon a gimmick to attract increased media attention and fan interest.

Ahh, softball. Only in the independent leagues. For me personally, I'd much rather watch this than the Mets right now. Less stressful and much more entertaining.

And did I mention that the girls are totally gonna smoke the dudes? Hitting a fast pitch softball is really, really difficult. Playing softball is just as big of an advantage as Riggs giving Billie Jean King the doubles ally in their male v. female match.

Joe Gordon Baseball Hall of Fame Pictures

July 2009

I Swear to God, This Headline Is Not Fake

July 2009

From today's NYTIMES:

"Mets Continue Hitting And Drop Astros Again"

Wait, what? Mets continue hitting? That's an oxymoron, right?

But in all seriousness, watching the Mets this month has been painful at best. Nice to see the Mets get a couple of wins under their belt this weekend.

Jim Rice Boston Red Sox LF Pictures

July 2009

The Mariners, Jack Zduriencik. And the Benefit of Losing

July 2009

Entering the all-star break, the Seattle Mariners were one of the biggest surprises in baseball. No one expected much out of the Mariners this season, especially after they lost 100 games last year, but during the first half of the season, their play had been stellar. By the time the all star break rolled around, the Mariners found themselves only 4 games back of the Angels in the AL West and only 1.5 games back of the second place Texas Rangers.

Now for most clubs, having a solid first half would be a very, very good thing. But for the Mariners, it put GM Jack Zduriencik in a very difficult spot. Do the Mariners play for 2009 and become buyers at the trade deadline or do the Mariners become sellers and try to acquire new building blocks that could make the team stronger in 2010 and beyond?

Zduriencik was stuck in a true dilemma. It would be very difficult to trade away players when the team is competing in 2009, but at the same time, I doubt anyone in the Mariners organization believed that this team has what it takes to compete in 2009.

So Zduriencik did the smart thing and sat tight. And you know what? The Mariners have made the decision much easier for the Mariners GM. After the all-star break, the team has played poorly and now sits 7.5 games back of first place after getting swept by the lowly Cleveland Indians at home this weekend. The M's have drifted out of the playoff race....and you know what that means....

TIME TO SELL!

The Mariners biggest trade chip right now is obviously Jarrod Washburn, who is sporting a 2.71 ERA and is having the best year of his career. Washburn, who is a free agent at the end of the season, could be a VERY ATTRACTIVE player for teams, who simply cannot afford the steep price for Roy Halladay. The Mariners could get back a few quality prospects in return, which should help them rebuild even further.

In addition, I know trading Russell Branyan would not be a popular move for Mariners fans, but I think the Mariners must explore the option. Branyan, who is also a free agent at the end of the season, is putting up the best numbers of his career at the spacious SAFECO Field and could help a number of teams down the stretch with his big bat and ability to get on base. I imagine that any team looking to acquire Branyan would have to part with some quality prospects, given how much power is in demand right now.

And finally, if the Mariners can find a taker for Johjima and his contract, they should make the move IMMEDIATELY.

While it sucks for the Mariners that Erik Bedard is hurt, the benefit of falling out of playoff contention is that management can now work towards building the Mariners into stronger competitors in the future. Zduriencik now has the freedom to explore his selling options on the market without the backlash from the fan base. For a 1st year GM, it's a blessing that he did not have to sell when the team was in contention and now he has the opportunity to advance the Mariners even more.

Are the Cardinals The Team To Beat In The National League?

July 2009

Entering today's game, the Cardinals offense has ranked in the middle of the pack in the National League. Despite having the best offensive player in the game, the Cardinals offense ranks 10th in OBP, 11th in batting average, and 8th in OPS. In part because of the Cardinals offensive struggles, the team has been unable to develop a big lead in the NL Central.

Luckily for the Cardinals, GM John Mozeliak recognized the Cardinals offensive deficiencies and decided to do something about it. This is a team that has a real opportunity to do some damage in the National League this season, but only if the right pieces were put into place.

And Mozeliak was ultra aggressive in putting the right pieces in place. He went out and acquired Mark DeRosa from the Indians, Julio Lugo from the Red Sox, and slugger Matt Holliday from the Athletics. On paper, DeRosa and Holliday should become the impact bats the Cardinals have been longing for to surround Albert Pujols and Julio Lugo should see significant time at shortstop, especially if he's productive at the dish.

This is what we know for sure: the Cardinals lineup should be much better. Adding DeRosa and Holliday to this lineup should make Cardinals pitchers ABSOLUTELY GIDDY. This pitching staff has carried the team for the most part this season. Led by Chris Carpenter and Ryan Franklin, the staff ranks 5th in the NL with a 3.86 ERA, 12th in runs allowed, 3rd in WHIP (1.31), and last in walks allowed in the National League (289). Those numbers are above and beyond what many baseball people thought the Cardinals pitching staff (Joel Pineiro, Ryan Franklin) would be able to produce this season.

What we don't know is how these moves will impact the Cardinals for the rest of 2009. While the National League is not exactly loaded with impressive teams, it remains to be seen if the Cardinals stack up with top teams like the Phillies and the Dodgers. And as we all know, the Cubs and the Brewers aren't going away anytime soon in the NL Central despite the Cardinals aggressive dealing.

In the end, if I'm a Cardinals fan, I have to feel good about where this team is headed. It remains to be seen how far the Cardinals will go this year, but it's obvious to me that the Cardinals have gone from a somewhat surprising contender to a team that the entire National League should fear. Even with all of this offense now on the Cardinals roster, the most important player on the Cardinals not named Pujols is by far Chris Carpenter. Without him, most of the Cardinals 2009 luster is lost.

I know the Cardinals have gutted most of their farm system with these moves, but acquiring another quality arm would certainly help the Cardinals.

Thoughts?

Babe Ruth Baseball Legend Pictures

July 2009

Rickey Henderson Baseball Hall of Fame Pictures

July 2009

Should the Mets Fire Omar Minaya?

July 2009

Since he became the Mets GM in 2005, Omar Minaya became one of my favorite GMs in baseball. This is not just some blatant homerism; I genuinely enjoyed the way Minaya handled his business. I admired Minaya's ability to find low cost players off the scrapheap that every other team seemingly passed on. Between Fernando Tatis, Endy Chavez, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Duaner Sanchez; Minaya seemed to have this unique ability to find low cost production.

But over the past few seasons, Minaya's Mets have not been successful. For the past two seasons, the Mets have missed out on a playoff birth on the last day of the season in excruciating fashion. And in 2009, the Mets have been decimated by injury and currently sit in fourth place.

So with the team struggling in 2009 after two seasons of missing the playoffs, the question lingers: should the Mets fire Omar Minaya?

Let's take a look at both sides of the spectrum.

YES

-During his tenure with the Mets, Minaya has failed to find an adequate supporting cast for his bevy of stars (Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Santana, etc). Minaya has such a good core to build around, but the rest of the roster has been insufficient.

-Minaya has the luxury of having an owner, who is willing to spend what it takes to win. However, in recent seasons, Minaya has spent Wilpon's loot recklessly. He handed out a 4 year extension to Luis Castillo, which looked excessive at the time and now looks crazy (even with his productive 2009). And Minaya gave the unpredictable Oliver Perez a 3 year/$36 million dollar extension after missing out on Derek Lowe.

-The minor league system has produced very little depth. Yes, the Mets have been ridiculously injured this season, but the Mets have very little in the minors that can adequately soften the blow of losing so many players. As a result, the bleeding has not stopped and 2009 looks like a waste.

-Not spending $$$ on draft picks. This is probably more Wilpon than Minaya, but given the Mets financial strength, there is no reason why the Mets should adhere to MLB's slotting system. If they used their financial muscle, they probably would be able to acquire better talent. Even if the decision is made by Wilpon, I would hope that Minaya is doing everything in his power to get the owner to open up his wallet for draft picks like he has for free agents.

-The organization is a mess. The whole Tony Bernazard situation is embarrassing and makes the Mets look dysfunctional. This chaos happened under Minaya's watch and that's got to count for something.

NO

-No matter what you think of Minaya and the Mets, there is not a GM out there that could solve the ills that currently plague the Mets. A good portion of the Mets core has missed significant time because of injury this season, which would have decimated any team. Minaya gets lots of grief because the Mets have a $140 million dollar payroll, but the injuries to star players has made his job nearly impossible. It's tough to fire a GM under these circumstances.

-Don't forget that the Mets lost alot more than just Delgado, Reyes, Beltran, and Putz to injury.

Here is my unofficial list: Oliver Perez, Brian Schneider, John Maine, Billy Wagner, Tim Redding, Angel Pagan, Ramon Martinez, Fernando Martinez, Ryan Church, Fernando Nieve, and Billy Wagner.

Wow.

-The Wilpons love him. Seriously, love him.

Verdict: I say no. I've been as frustrated by the Mets as anyone, but I just cannot bring myself to fire Minaya with so many injuries hanging over his head. I think he deserves another year (at least) to right the ship.

Thoughts?

Mark Buehrle: Perfect

July 2009

Wow. Holy crap.

Perfection. And Dewayne Wise. Jesus.

Buehrle No Hitters (2), Mets (0)

Random Video of the Week: Roy Halladay Solves Everything

July 2009

Omar Minaya Agrees: The Mets Will Not Be Sellers

July 2009

As we wrote here last Friday, the Mets will not be sellers at the trading deadline:

"Right now we do not envision [being a seller]," Minaya said. "If we're 6 ½ [back] in the wild card with a couple of teams in front of us, we are still kind of trying to find out how we can improve this team, if we can improve it through trades."

This, of course, makes all the sense in the world. The Mets have nothing of value right now on their roster that could bring back anything of true value in return.

What doesn't make sense right now is Minaya's logic that "the Mets will not be sellers because we think we still have a chance to win the wild card." No. That thinking is wrong. With 7 teams ahead of them for the wild card and no realistic return date for Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Maine, etc; how can Minaya honestly think that the Mets still have a shot at the wild card. Right now, the Mets are missing too much to compete for the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Minaya, the Mets will not be sellers either. 2009 is looking like a waste for the Mets.

Hypothetically Speaking: Rickey Henderson and the HOF

July 2009

Random thought of the day: Let's say in the year 2011, the Athletics call Rickey Henderson and offer him a spot on the 25 man roster because they are in dire need of speed and Rickey-isms. Now, we all know that Rickey would not turn that offer down no matter how old he is and no matter how many years he has been away from baseball.

Does the hall of fame have any rules against this? Would Rickey Henderson be kicked out of the hall of fame?

Thoughts?

Jim Parque: Why I Used HGH

July 2009

Hands down one of the most interesting pieces I have read all year. Former White Sox starter Jim Parque pens a piece where he admits why he used HGH and offers his reasoning for doing so. There is simply too much good stuff for me to just cherry pick his words, so I encourage you to click on the link and check it out.

Jim Parque

What I came out of the piece was this: the decision to use HGH was a totally rational decision for Parque. After injuring his shoulder in 2000, Parque feared for his career. After working for so many years and putting in so many hours perfecting his craft, baseball was all Parque knew and was the only way he knew how to make a living. The thought of being forced away from baseball put Parque's future in doubt and left him wondering how he could support his family.

So in a last ditch effort to revive his career, Parque turned to HGH, which was not banned by MLB at the time. Even though Parque only used the drug a handful of times, the aftermath of using HGH (being mentioned in the Mitchell Report) has not been easy to deal with.

I can't help but feel sorry for Parque. The decision to use HGH was a choice that he made because his options were dwindling and he needed to support his family. If any of us were put in Parque's situation, I think we would have a tough time not using HGH.

Thoughts?

Baseball Managers Are Old And Gray

July 2009

Ever wonder where all the older folks have gone? The answer: in the dugouts of major league teams.

"You wanna win at baseball? Easy. Hire an old guy to manage your team.

In this youth-dominated world, it's old-timers day everyday at the top of the baseball standings. The National League in particular is like an advertisement for AARP.

The National League also boasts three other graybeards in their 60s. You could hire the whole bunch to do those interminable sales pitches for old people's remedies that dominate the network news commercials every night — fixing their dentures, going to the bathroom at their leisure and taking the right medications to ward off dementia.

The average age of National League managers is almost 57 and, hey, that's supposed to be the league where more brain power is required because there's no designated hitter. They don't call it the Senior Circuit for nothing.

Not that the American League managers are all spring chickens, either. The Central Division leader is Detroit, managed by Jimmy Leyland, who is 64. That means that by the end of the year, four of the six division-leading managers will be eligible for full Social Security benefits."

I have no idea how these guys survive a 162 game season. I'm only 19 years old and the wear and tear of watching 162 baseball games on TV is too much for me. Lord knows how these guys deal with the brutal travel, the media, big egos, agents, front office people, and oh yeah, their families. Jesus, that sounds like an action packed life.

It's hard to believe that we don't see more managers falling asleep in the dugout during games. One of my favorite baseball moments was watching Frank Robinson fall asleep in the dugout while the Nationals, the team he was managing, was playing.

In the end, it's all about the love of the game. You have to admire these baseball lifers, who put in their dues in the minor leagues and other various roles in the hopes of getting a shot to manage at the highest level.

Trivia Question: Who is the oldest manager in baseball history? How old was he?

Should the Athletics Trade Justin Duchscherer?

July 2009

Yesterday, ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney outlined why Justin Duchscherer should be an attractive alternate for teams looking for a top flight starting pitcher.

"Pitcher B is Justin Duchscherer. Those are his numbers from 2008. He has not pitched in 2009 after undergoing an elbow cleanup, but he is set to begin his minor league rehabilitation assignment and could be ready to pitch in the big leagues within a couple of weeks. The right-hander will be eligible for free agency this fall, and with Oakland in the process of trading off usable parts Duchscherer could be an intriguing alternative for teams that are looking for pitching help.

He has been often hurt in his career, but when Duchscherer is active and pitching, he usually fares pretty well, whether as a starter or a reliever. The 31-year-old has had four seasons of 55.2 or more innings, and his ERA has never been higher than 3.27 in those seasons. Twice he has made All-Star teams: once as a reliever, and once as a starting pitcher, most recently in 2008."

All that information is well and good, but for the life of me, I cannot understand why the Athletics would want to trade Duchscherer right now. Sure Duchscherer is a free agent at the end of the season, but can the Athletics really get anything meaningful for Duchscherer at this point? Here is a guy who has not pitched at all this season and at 31, represents nothing more than a gamble for a contending team? Why would any GM give up something meaningful for Duchscherer?

There is simply not enough time left before the deadline for Duchscherer to regain his ace status and shed the label that he is an injury prone player. From the Athletics perspective, trading Duchscherer offers a very limited potential for a valuable return.

It's unfortunate for the Athletics because if Duchscherer was able to make a few quality starts before the break, the potential return on Duchscherer would have been much higher. At that point, it might have actually made sense for the Athletics to trade him.

I honestly think the best way that Duchscherer can help the Athletics this season is for him to take some pressure of their young starting rotation and overworked bullpen (most IP in AL).

Thoughts?

The Unseen Intruder

July 2009

April was no stranger to pranksters trying to scare her while in her bedroom. They tried by throwing eggs at her windows or just simply knock on them and run. The house they lived in was on a corner and her bedroom was located in the corner/front of the house. Basically it was easy for those who wanted to scare her to do so and made for a quick get-a-way without being seen. She has seen lots of activity in that room, some of which she just can't explain. One Friday night while their Mother was out with friends, April and her sister invited a couple of male friends over for popcorn and movies. While in the middle of a horror flick, their dogs started acting strange. They ran down the hall to April’s bedroom door. The door was shut and they kept growling as if someone or something was in there. Right after they got up to see what was wrong, they heard a loud bang coming from the room. They all froze and tried to come up with a plan on what to do. April’s sister told her that she had all the house keys including the ones that locked the bedroom doors. After one of the guys grabbed a kitchen knife, they all huddle behind him, opened the door, and walked in together. They felt a breeze coming from the room and noticed that her window was slightly opened. The sheets and blankets looked as if someone grabbed them from the top and pulled them to the end of the bed onto the floor. April keeps her window latched because of all the pranksters trying to scare her, so she couldn’t figure out how it got opened. The only way to open them was from the inside. Even more puzzling was how her sheets and blankets got on the floor when she clearly made the bed that morning. While her sister clutched the keys in fear, they wondered if they should call 911. Having no explanation for the window being opened, the boys decided to get brave and search the whole house for possible intruders. They started yelling, telling the intruders that they better leave because they had a knife, and they were not scared, even though they were. April and her sister sat waiting in the bedroom scared and wondered if this was just one of the many unexplained things that have happened since they rented that house. After a full search of the house, the boys came back to the bedroom and reported finding nothing. They went back in the living room, leaving the bedroom door wide opened. Her sister remembered leaving the keys their mother entrusted to her, in the bedroom. She asked April to go with her to get them because of what happened earlier. As they got to the bedroom, they noticed the door was shut and locked. They felt a chill all over because they know that the only way to lock the bedroom doors was with a key and the keys were in the bedroom. The dogs started growling at the door again, so this time they all ran outside scared and shaken. Grabbing the phone, April called their neighbor and told them what was happening. The couple came over and while the wife stayed with the kids, her husband checked out the house. He searched the entire place, finding nothing and no one. He told them that April’s bedroom door was opened, not shut and locked like they had told him earlier. The couple asked if they wanted them to stay until their Mother came home but they reassured them that they would be fine. After they left, one of the boys had to get home as well. He lived nearby and was so scared of what happened that he ran all the way and called April as soon as he got there to see if they were alright. The three of them were still scared and jumpy but decided to watch another movie, a comedy this time. Not long after getting into the movie they heard a loud crashing noise in the kitchen. This time they yelled to see if anyone was in there in stead of quickly investigating. Getting no response and being very frightened, the three of them got up and walked towards the kitchen in a huddle to check it out. When they got in the kitchen, they saw the drying rack and everything that was in it, lying on the floor. This rack was heavy and full of pots and pans so for it to just fall on the floor, it needed some strong force pushing it. It was almost as if someone picked it up and threw it on the floor. They also noticed that the cabinet door above the area where the rack sat was opened. The box of teabags was opened and almost all the bags were thrown all over the kitchen. There was no conceivable explanation for what happened. Still very scared, they cleaned it up and finished right before their Mother came home. Needless to say, neither of them got any sleep that night because of the unseen intruder.

What Could Have Been: Rafael Furcal to the Braves

July 2009

For a few days last winter, the baseball world believed that Rafael Furcal was set to return to his original team, the Atlanta Braves:

"The Braves appear on the verge of bringing back shortstop Rafael Furcal, a move that would likely send Kelly Johnson to the outfield if he’s not traded. Two people familiar with the situation confirmed Furcal, a free agent and former Braves All-Star, tentatively agreed to a three-year contract that could be finalized after he takes a physical Wednesday in Atlanta."

At the time, I thought Furcal was going to be a great fit for the Braves. Even though he was coming off an injury plagued season in 2008, I believed that he could provide the needed spark at the top of the Braves lineup.

Furthermore, signing Furcal would have given the Braves flexibility to make the big move and trade for ace Jake Peavy. The addition of Furcal would make Yunel Escobar expendable and potentially help the Braves land one of the best pitchers in baseball.

However, the deal with Furcal never came to be. And instead, Furcal decided to re-sign with the Dodgers.

But you know what, sometimes the best deals are the ones that are not made. In this case, the Braves certainly got the best of this deal, even though they did not wind up with Rafael Furcal or Jake Peavy.

In 2009, Furcal has hit just .253 with the Dodgers to go along with 4 home runs, 5 stolen bases, and a .328 OBP. Those numbers are obviously well below what the Dodgers expected from Furcal when they handed him a 3 year/$30 million dollar contract over the winter.

Also, it seems as though the Braves lucked out by NOT acquiring Jake Peavy. When healthy, Peavy is a very good pitcher, but the problem has been that Peavy cannot stay healthy. The Padres ace has only made 13 starts this season because of an ankle problem and he could very well miss the remainder of the season.

And finally, by not trading for Peavy, the Braves were able to keep Yunel Escobar, who most baseball people assumed was going to be included in any deal for Peavy. Through the first half of the season, Escobar has probably been the Braves MVP as he is hitting over .300 with 9 home runs, 52 RBI, and a .369 OBP. Sure, Escobar may not be Bobby Cox's favorite player, but his talent and ability is unquestioned.

While Furcal's last minute defection might have hurt the Braves at the time, there is no doubt that the Braves are happy that the Furcal deal did not go down.

Would Roy Halladay Have Accepted A Trade To The Mets?

July 2009

Lost in the shuffle in all of this Roy Halladay to the Mets nonsense, is the fact that Roy Halladay has a no trade clause. Even though there seems to be no life for this deal anymore, I can't help but wonder if Halladay would have actually waived his no trade clause to come to the Mets.

On one hand, these are the Mets. This team just opened up a brand new ballpark, has a huge payroll, has Johan Santana/David Wright/Jose Reyes/Carlos Beltran, has an owner who is willing to spend money (we hope), and is located in a huge market in New York City. Even though the team is struggling right now, the benefit of playing in a big market with a team that has the pieces for a legitimate title contender would have been very appealing for Halladay.

However, on the other hand, these are still the Mets. It's looking more and more like 2009 is going to be a wash for this team in large part because of the injuries to Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, JJ Putz, John Maine, and more. Would Halladay have been willing to accept going to a team that probably will not compete in 2009? Hard to say.

This situation would have presented a very interesting dilemma for Halladay if the trade went down because he would have been banking that the Mets were almost guaranteed to win it all in 2010.

If Halladay was indeed traded to the Mets, I think he would have been completely torn about waiving the no trade. But in the end, I bet he would do it especially if the Mets gave him some kind of extension. Money talks. However, it would be difficult to fault him for turning the deal down because of how bad the Mets are right now.

But for now and probably forever, we will not have to worry about this scenario playing itself out and we can still with all the hypotheticals and what ifs.

Get Your Pitchforks Ready, Royals Fans

July 2009

Because apparently, Trey Hillman, manager of the last place Royals, thinks you have no idea what your talking about.

"KC Royals manager Trey Hillman apparently doesn't suffer fools gladly. Especially Royals fans who, he thinks, don't know what they're talking about.

"There’s a lot that people don’t know," Hillman told The Star recently. "I’m not going to bang my head against the wall defending things I do or do not do in trying to educate the masses about things that, quite frankly, I can’t educate. There’s just too much.... That’s not me getting my violin out. I don’t want people feeling sorry for me. I love my job. But there’s a lot of moving parts to being a major-league manager that people don’t get."

I'm sure there is lots that comes with being a major league manager that the public has no idea about because hell, a large majority of the public has never managed at any level in professional baseball.

But Royals fans are not stupid. They can recognize when a ball club is moving in the right direction and there is no doubt that this team is not performing well at all. One can make the case that Trey Hillman is one of the worst managers in the American League. Others would argue that the Royals struggles are all because of Dayton Moore.

No matter where you stand, it's clear that both Moore and Hillman deserve blame (and lots of it) for the Royals this season.

If challenging the fans makes Hillman believe somewhere in his mythical world that the Royals are not a mess, then so be it. No matter how the Royals finish in the standings in 2009 (and beyond), there is no doubt that the patience and sanity of Royals fans has to be waring thin.

Only one thing's for sure: thank God for Greinke.

(Side Note: After a year and a half of Trey Hillman, I'm sure 99.9999% of Royals fans out there have no interest in being educated by the Royals skipper.)

Morning Photo: Yoga With Andre Ethier

July 2009

Yup, that's Andre right there in the center leading some women from DodgersWIN in some yoga exercises. If yoga is the secret to the Dodgers success, then I suggest that the Mets take up yoga...fast.

(photo: LATIMES)

What Could Have Been: Derek Lowe to the Yankees

July 2009

Anyone remember way back in December that Derek Lowe was almost a Yankee? Well, according to Jon Heyman, Lowe and the Yankees were almost a match.

The Yankees' new rotation is starting to take shape, as they are also in serious negotiations with free-agent Derek Lowe. An agreement with Lowe appears likely to be finalized in the coming days, as well. The sides were discussing a contract for four years and about $66 million late Tuesday.

If the Yankees did sign Lowe as Heyman suggested, then I assume the Yankees pursuit of AJ Burnett would have been up in the air. It's hard to suggest now that the Yankees would have been better off with Lowe as opposed to Burnett, but the argument that the Yankees should have signed Lowe in addition to Sabathia and Burnett is very valid given the struggles of Joba Chamberlain and Chien Ming Wang this season.

In addition, if Lowe did sign with the Yankees, then I would have expected the Atlanta Braves to explode into a full blown out panic mode. In my opinion, it's completely feasible that the Braves would have either thrown tons of money at AJ Burnett or gave up the farm to San Diego for Jake Peavy.

However, because the Braves signed Lowe, they were never forced to make the panic move to get a front line starter, and as a result, the Braves were able to use their vast trade chips to acquire Nate McLouth from the Pirates this season.

In the end, I think both the Yankees and the Braves are satisfied with their acquisitions. However, Yankee fans have to be wondering what a rotation of Sabathia-Lowe-Burnett would have done for the 2009 Yankees, especially now as the Yankees possibly plunge into the Halladay market.

The Mets Will Not Be Sellers At The Deadline

July 2009

As my good friend Craig pointed out last week, the Mets are not likely to be serious buyers at the trading deadline because owner Fred Wilpon lost $700 million in the Bernie Madoff scandal. Obviously, it looks like it will be very difficult for the Mets to pick up a hefty salary when the owner of the ballclub is experiencing so much financial difficulty.

And at this point in time, who knows if the Mets will even be close enough in standings to warrant trying to acquire more talent. After last night's game, the Mets are 7.5 games back of the Phillies in the NL East and with no help in sight, there is little reason to believe in the Mets in 2009.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that if the Mets fall out of contention in 2009, then Omar Minaya should begin to shape the roster for 2010 and beyond through trades. The idea of becoming a seller is certain to not be popular in New York, but it makes sense for the future of the franchise.

But the sad reality is this: even if the Mets fall 15 games out of first place in the next week, there is just no way this team will ever become sellers. It's not that the Mets don't care about the future, but who exactly does this team have to trade?

-The Mets are not trading David Wright, Johan Santana, K-Rod, Mike Pelfrey, Bobby Parnell or Jeff Franceour.
-Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, JJ Putz, and John Maine are all injured.
-No one wants Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez.
-And on top of that, I doubt the Mets would look to deal the quality relief pitcher they have left: Feliciano, Green, Stokes

So who does that leave us with to trade?
-Fernando Tatis
-Jeremy Reed
-Alex Cora
-Gary Sheffield
-Livan Hernandez
-Brian Schneider
-Daniel Murphy
-Tim Redding

Obviously, that list of players is not going to yield many quality players in return. Sheffield is the only guy on this list, who could actually get the Mets back something decent in return. And when I say decent, I really mean mediocre.

So as you can see, there is just not much there for the Mets to deal. When/If the Mets finally decide to pull the plug on 2009, there is no chance of a huge firesale dismantling this team. The personnel is just not there.

What Could Have Been: Ken Griffey Jr to the Braves

July 2009

For a short period of time back in February, it looked like Ken Griffey Jr. was on his way to playing with the Atlanta Braves.

As David O'Brien wrote:

Ken Griffey Jr., one of only six players to hit more than 600 career home runs, has decided to play for the Braves, a person close to the veteran outfielder and familiar with the negotiations told the Journal-Constitution.

The Braves were obviously looking for Junior to be a productive outfielder, who could put some fannies in the seats at Turner Field. Even though Griffey is well past his prime, the Braves figured that Junior would be somewhat productive and on top of that, he would bring in enough revenue to justify the signing.

However, as we all know now, Junior did not sign with the Braves. Instead, he went back to his old stomping grounds and signed with the Seattle Mariners. Everyone in Seattle rejoiced while Braves fans were left stranded at the alter without Junior.

But as we look at the signing now, it appears as though the Braves were lucky that they did not sign Junior. In 234 at bats with the Mariners, Junior is only hitting .218 with 10 HR and a measly .337 OBP.

Despite Junior's poor performance, the Mariners have admirably stayed in contention in the AL West this season. However, a possible dilemma could be on the horizon for Junior and the Mariners. If the Mariners continue to stay in contention and Junior continues to struggle at the plate, the Mariners will have no choice but to either bench the living legend or at least move him down further in the batting order. The Mariners don't have many options in the middle of the order, but they need to find production for somewhere.

As for the Braves, their outfield production has been a source of concern all season. If the team had signed Griffey, their outfield production would have been even worse and Bobby Cox would have been put in a difficult situation with regards to Griffey and playing time. While Garret Anderson, the Braves current left fielder, is far from his prime, he is still an upgrade over the aging Ken Griffey Jr.