MLB 2005 - Usurping RRJ's single team thread for 2005.

[The Sheck]

At least the Yankees are struggling. ;)

GO TWINS!!!

[paranoidandroid]

At least the Yankees are struggling. ;)

GO TWINS!!!

contract 'em


:D

[sabos_glasses]

I hope the Yankees get hot soon. Seriously. While they are bad for the competitive spirit of the game, it is also interesting that they are so universally hated. Only when people start getting apathetic about the Yankees will baseball be in trouble.

[chuxxter]

I hope the Yankees get hot soon. Seriously. While they are bad for the competitive spirit of the game, it is also interesting that they are so universally hated. Only when people start getting apathetic about the Yankees will baseball be in trouble.
As long as George is still around, it is impossible to be apathetic about the Yankees. :eek:

[The Sheck]

contract 'em


:D

Jerk. ;)

If any teams should be contracted, it should be the Royals and Rockies. All this talk about the Twins and A's leaving shows me baseball officials don't have any clue about the game they run.

[sabos_glasses]

If any teams should be contracted, it should be the Royals and Rockies. All this talk about the Twins and A's leaving shows me baseball officials don't have any clue about the game they run.

What about the Devil Rays?

[chuxxter]

What about the Devil Rays?
NO!!! They at least can beat the Yankees!!! :p :p :p

[sabos_glasses]

NO!!! They at least can beat the Yankees!!! :p :p :p

Thats true. I heard a few days ago the D-Rays have 8 wins on the road all year, and 4 are against the Yanks.

[jcarwash31]

What about the Devil Rays?
They should have been first on the chopping block. Contraction talk should have been the Expos, Devil Rays, and Rockies.

NO!!! They at least can beat the Yankees!!! :p :p :p
The Twins took 2 out of 3 from the Yanks this year with an infield full of AAA call-ups.

[chuxxter]

They should have been first on the chopping block. Contraction talk should have been the Expos, Devil Rays, and Rockies.


The Twins took 2 out of 3 from the Yanks this year with an infield full of AAA call-ups.
I totally disagree with the Expos. As they are proving now, all they needed were fans who would show up and love them. The moral here is stay the fuck out of Canada. This is not baseball territory.

[jcarwash31]

I totally disagree with the Expos. As they are proving now, all they needed were fans who would show up and love them. The moral here is stay the fuck out of Canada. This is not baseball territory.
I think at the time it was obvious, but instead MLB did the right thing by purchasing the team and keeping it alive. Now they are alive and kicking ass.

[chuxxter]

I think at the time it was obvious, but instead MLB did the right thing by purchasing the team and keeping it alive. Now they are alive and kicking ass.
Amen. I think they should contract the Pirates, Brewers, Devil Rays, and Rockies. The Pirates owner bitched and moaned for a new stadium so he could compete and the next thing he did was trade his best pitchers, Schmidt and Benson, for nobodys. The Brewers were owned by Bud Selig-enough reason there. The Devil Rays owners do not want to spend any money to compete. And I hate Coors Field-a true abortion in baseball.

[RedRigmaJacket]

hey man - now there's nothing wrong with having single team threads...and i'm all for a MLB thread as well...GO TRIBE.

[The Sheck]

Tampa Bay at least has a strong Minor League system. The Royals and Rockies do not.

[jcarwash31]

At least the Yankees are struggling. ;)

GO TWINS!!!contract 'em


:D


Yes, they should contract the Yankees.

[bjk15]

seriously, the royals and the d-rays should be contracted without even a thought.

although, the d-rays have some serious talent in their system, it's a shame. they refuse to add payroll, that pisses me off way more than the yankees extremely excessive payroll. seriously, that infuriates me so.

actually, i think MLB should have standards for their owners. (really for all sports). although i like a roof tax, a floor tax should also be enforced at least. the things teams do sometimes is just wrong. i could talk about this year for years, so i'll stop now.

plus, the brewers should be looked at as an alternative contractee.

[FOBAgain]

plus, the brewers should be looked at as an alternative contractee.

I would have agreed with this a couple years ago, but I actually think the Brewers are on the right track, finally. They've got a good, young, cheap pitching staff and loads of talent coming up from AAA, like Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder. It's sad that they seem to be headed in a much better direction than the Reds.

[The Sheck]

Is Kenny Rogers on Crank or something? First, he breaks his non-pitching hand punching a water cooler, then yesterday he shoves two cameramen down.

Who says you mellow with age?

[afterdinnerman]

Anyone else have a problem with Dunn tipping his hat to the Busch stadium crowd and getting high fived/glad handed by his team after he hit his first sac fly in 2 years, while losing 11-3 in the top of the 9th?

That is very indicitive of what is wrong with the Reds.

[FOBAgain]

Anyone else have a problem with Dunn tipping his hat to the Busch stadium crowd and getting high fived/glad handed by his team after he hit his first sac fly in 2 years, while losing 11-3 in the top of the 9th?

That is very indicitive of what is wrong with the Reds.


That actually happened?? I heard them talking about on sports talk this morning, but I thought they were joking! Unfreaking believable that a friggin power hitter can't drive in a run with a sac fly in 2 years! Jeezus, just by dumb luck, I could have probably driven one in given the same number of AB's!

I was a huge Dunn fan as he came up, but he's just turned into an ass this year. I won't be sad to see him get traded. (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3727904)

[The Sheck]

Bret Boone to Minnesota?

Twins pursue Boone trade

Seattle cutting ties to second baseman

BY GORDON WITTENMYER

Pioneer Press


ANAHEIM, Calif. — If three-time all-star Bret Boone isn't the Twins' starting second baseman next week, it won't be for lack of making a run at the suddenly available Gold Glove infielder.

The Twins appear to be in the middle of the pursuit of Boone, with the San Diego Padres and possibly the New York Yankees also talking to the Seattle Mariners, who designated Boone for assignment Sunday.

Seattle's move gives the Mariners 10 days to trade or release him, and general manager Bill Bavasi has made it clear he plans to make a deal, probably for a prospect or package of prospects.

Among the top areas of need for Seattle are pitchers and outfielders. The Twins have pitching depth in their system and might have just enough outfield depth to afford a prospect from that pool.

"I'm not going to deny anything right now,'' said Terry Ryan, the Twins' typically tight-lipped general manager, when asked about pursuing Boone. "I've got to keep everything going.''

Another Twins official suggested interest in Boone, and reports in Seattle say the Twins are one of as many as a half-dozen teams interested.

The Twins' attraction to Boone, who is in the final year of his contract, is as obvious as their biggest hurdle.

Despite his hitting struggles this season (.231, seven homers), Boone is a 13-year veteran with a .266 lifetime average, good power (252 career homers), leadership, playoff experience and Gold Glove awards at second the past three seasons. He would bolster the Twins' weakest position area this season, the infield, becoming the fifth starter this season at second.

Boone, 36, has told those close to him he loves playing at the Metrodome, where he owns a .271 average, with four homers, in 107 career at-bats.

The hurdle is money. Boone makes $9.2 million this season, with half of that the responsibility of whomever would trade for him.

The Mariners are willing to pick up some of the remaining salary, but it's uncertain how much. A potential deal with the Padres reportedly fell through because San Diego wanted $4 million of his remaining salary covered, and the Mariners offered to split the balance.

It is believed by some in Seattle that the Mariners might be willing to pick up $3 million or more of Boone's remaining salary — especially considering that if Boone were to be released and clear waivers, the Mariners would be responsible for all of his salary.

One intriguing possibility, although unlikely for a rent-a-player such as Boone, would be trading pitcher Kyle Lohse and his $2.4 million salary for Boone. The Twins would consider that only if they felt sure that a prospect such as right-hander Scott Baker, who pitched well against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night, was ready to step into the rotation. And it's likely to happen only if the Twins decide they don't plan to go through another winter of arbitration, and possibly two winters of arbitration (paying upward of $3 million or $4 million in salary), with a projected fifth starter.

Lohse's name has been raised in trade rumors, and his trade value is at its highest in at least two years.

Ryan said that in general he is looking into possible trades as the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline looms.

"There's interest in making a trade to improve the ballclub,'' he said. "There's no question we've got some areas of concern. I'd like to help out and be a contributor to the point where we can help the cause out.''

A deal for Boone would be the Twins' biggest trading-deadline deal since they acquired leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart at the all-star break in 2003.

[Artpunchehorse]

That actually happened?? I heard them talking about on sports talk this morning, but I thought they were joking! Unfreaking believable that a friggin power hitter can't drive in a run with a sac fly in 2 years! Jeezus, just by dumb luck, I could have probably driven one in given the same number of AB's!

I was a huge Dunn fan as he came up, but he's just turned into an ass this year. I won't be sad to see him get traded. (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3727904)

Now we have to wait for Wily Mo to have his first career sac fly

[jcarwash31]

Boone...hmmm. That would leave Punto, L-Rod, Cuddyer, and Glen Williams to fight for 3rd base. I wouldn't be too disappointed to lose Lohse in this trade. I have always liked Lohse, but he hasn't lived up to his potential yet. A good 5th starter, could be a 4th starter on a lot of teams, might win 14-15 games this year, but I doubt he can get his era under 4. Baker and Gassner have looked like they may be ready for the 5th spot in the rotation.

Interesting. :confused:

[sabos_glasses]

The Bill Simmons line of the day:

Torre carries himself with the confidence of a stunned father who just saw his two daughters flashing their breasts on a "Girls Gone Wild" video.

[Artpunchehorse]

Boone...hmmm. That would leave Punto, L-Rod, Cuddyer, and Glen Williams to fight for 3rd base. I wouldn't be too disappointed to lose Lohse in this trade. I have always liked Lohse, but he hasn't lived up to his potential yet. A good 5th starter, could be a 4th starter on a lot of teams, might win 14-15 games this year, but I doubt he can get his era under 4. Baker and Gassner have looked like they may be ready for the 5th spot in the rotation.

Interesting. :confused:

Rumor here was Joe Randa going to Minny

[The Sheck]

Rumor here was Joe Randa going to Minny

Last week one of the MN papers reported the Twins weren't going after him.

[The Sheck]

Holy Shit!

Bret Boone to Minnesota (http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5501046.html) for a minor-league prospect to be named later. That could end up being a steal.

[jcarwash31]

Holy Shit!

Bret Boone to Minnesota (http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5501046.html) for a minor-league prospect to be named later. That could end up being a steal.
Holy Shit, Indeed!

[The Sheck]

Trades made today so far...

Preston Wilson to the Nationals.

Oakland ships Chad Bradford to Boston for Jay Payton, then ships Eric Byrnes to Colorado for Jay Witasick and Joe Kennedy.

[jcarwash31]

I got the inside scoop from the pizza guy. Check this. The Twins are trying to get Jim Thome AND they are going to package Lohse and Rivas to get a pitcher. That has got to be true.

[Handy Smurf]

Trades made today so far...

Preston Wilson to the Nationals.

Oakland ships Chad Bradford to Boston for Jay Payton, then ships Eric Byrnes to Colorado for Jay Witasick and Joe Kennedy.
Zach Day went from the NAts to the Rockies in this deal. I went to gradeschool with him(he's a couple years older than I am) and keep tabs on his career as many people in our community do seeing as how he's one semi famous link to our podunk town.
Anyway, he had a pretty good career developing a couple seasons ago that has really been derailed. Honestly, if you're rooting for a pitcher to do well, the last place you probably want him to go is Colorado. Maybe the change in scenery will be good for him.

[RedRigmaJacket]

how about that fight last night between the tigers and royals? i would go after him too if i got hit in the helmet...i think he was the 4th to get hit...and good cheap shot body slam at the end!

[Handy Smurf]

I kept missing the footage, but saw the ESPNews lead in about 4 times before they went to commercial. Didnt Kyle Farnsworth beat the crap out of someobody on the Reds a few years ago?
This may spawn a new thread
...yes, RRJ, I have one...I think you may like it

[Artpunchehorse]

I kept missing the footage, but saw the ESPNews lead in about 4 times before they went to commercial. Didnt Kyle Farnsworth beat the crap out of someobody on the Reds a few years ago?
This may spawn a new thread
...yes, RRJ, I have one...I think you may like it

It was "tough guy" Paul Wilson

[jcarwash31]

Just what the Yankees needed, another aging pitcher (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050716&content_id=1133731&vkey=trade2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb) who is struggling. Although Leiter did get the win yesterday for the Yankees.






Yankees Suck.

[The Ugly Thief]

y0 - this is going to be known as one of the most important years for the Braves ever. Even if they don't manage to win their division (which I think they will), it is going to be known as the year when rookies like Wilson Betemit, Ryan Langerhans, Kelly Johnson, and Jeff Francoeur all came into the majors - because all of those players are potential All-Stars.

v

[Handy Smurf]

y0 - this is going to be known as one of the most important years for the Braves ever. Even if they don't manage to win their division (which I think they will), it is going to be known as the year when rookies like Wilson Betemit, Ryan Langerhans, Kelly Johnson, and Jeff Francoeur all came into the majors - because all of those players are potential All-Stars.

v
will it also be known as the year they gave up future Cy Young winners for Tim Hudson?

For the record, I was impressed by Kelly Johnson...but not so much anyone else

[The Ugly Thief]

will it also be known as the year they gave up future Cy Young winners for Tim Hudson?No, it will be known as the year the Braves got a future CY Young award winner at below market price because of his injury. Now, he's ready & he'll be at 100% right around August/Sept comes around. He still hasn't peaked out as a pitcher yet - and Leo Mazzone knows how to make a pitcher reach his peak.

It also might be known as the year that one of their best young pitching prospects (Jorge Sosa) finally got into the starting rotation.

This was going to be a rebuild season for the Braves. Instead, they are only 1.5 games out of 1st, and just getting their best players off the DL this week.

v

[The Ugly Thief]

For the record, I was impressed by Kelly Johnson...but not so much anyone elseWilson Betemit is batting .299 & playing an amazing 3rd base. Ryan Langerhans is playing a great RF & has shown he can hit, just needs some consistancy, which comes w/ experience. Jeff Francoeur has already hit 2 HRs in the short amount of time he's played....and the Braves only brought him up this early because Brian Jordan got hurt & opened a spot in the roster.

v

[Handy Smurf]

Wilson Betemit is batting .299 & playing an amazing 3rd base. Ryan Langerhans is playing a great RF & has shown he can hit, just needs some consistancy, which comes w/ experience. Jeff Francoeur has already hit 2 HRs in the short amount of time he's played....and the Braves only brought him up this early because Brian Jordan got hurt & opened a spot in the roster.

v
because all of those players are potential All-Stars.

v
Now are you going to have a third post explaining to me how these make sense? ;)
If you listen around enough, your organization probably has 40 potential All Stars 16 potential MVPS, 9 potential CY Young winners, and 13 potential Hall of Famers...That stuff is always overhyped, regardless of the fact that the Braves have a pretty good history of developing/drafting talent. Betemit is ok, I said Johnson is the only one who impressed me much--and thats because I saw him have a multi homer game and make a great catch the same night in a game in Cincy a month or so ago.
Keep in mind the same thing was being said about Rafael Furcal 5 years ago...a guy who is still on the good side of 30 and starting in Betemits natural position and has only managed to make 1 All Star team so far in his career.

[The Ugly Thief]

Keep in mind the same thing was being said about Rafael Furcal 5 years ago...a guy who is still on the good side of 30 and starting in Betemits natural position and has only managed to make 1 All Star team so far in his career.That's very true. Furcal has not exactly "disappointed", but he was expected to be regarded as one of the top SS by now & he has not quite reached that. As a matter of fact, his name was being whispered as a potential trade once Chipper Jones came back - and Betemit could be moved over to SS. However, over the past month or two Furcal has definitely stepped up his game. I don't know if he needed a kick in the ass or what, but he's playing the way the Braves had always hoped he would play - getting on base, stealing, manufacturing runs, and even hitting for power at times. His defense has also improved.

...and now that the trade rumors seem to have only been rumors, the question is "What do we do w/ Betemit once Chipper comes back to play 3rd" ?

I see Betemit spending the remainder of the season on the bench & being a valuable pinch-hitter - especially in the late innings of the post-season.

v

[jcarwash31]

...and now that the trade rumors seem to have only been rumors, the question is "What do we do w/ Betemit once Chipper comes back to play 3rd" ?

I see Betemit spending the remainder of the season on the bench & being a valuable pinch-hitter - especially in the late innings of the post-season.

v
If he is a real young guy. They may send him down to AAA for the remainder of the AAA season to get at bats and bring him back up in September. The Twins send guys down alot instead of parking them on the bench so they can play everyday.

[The Ugly Thief]

If he is a real young guy. They may send him down to AAA for the remainder of the AAA season to get at bats and bring him back up in September. The Twins send guys down alot instead of parking them on the bench so they can play everyday.well yha, you're right - unless they want to keep him on the bench as a utility infielder in case of injuries. The guy can play 3rd & SS - and probably would be able to fill in at 2nd if he had to. It will be a tough call because you do want the guy to be active & not just sitting on the bench when he could be getting ABs down in AAA.

v

[jcarwash31]

Props to Jacque Jones!!!!

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/2005/07/20/fww8LJgQ.jpg

He has had the game winning hit in the last 2 games for the Twins. Yesterday he hit a grounder up the middle in the bottom of the 9th that Tejada gloved but was unable to throw Jones out that brought in the winning run. And today he hit a walk off homerun in the 9th.

That makes it 8 games in a row decided by 1 run for the Twins.

[Artpunchehorse]

That's very true. Furcal has not exactly "disappointed", but he was expected to be regarded as one of the top SS by now & he has not quite reached that. As a matter of fact, his name was being whispered as a potential trade once Chipper Jones came back - and Betemit could be moved over to SS. However, over the past month or two Furcal has definitely stepped up his game. I don't know if he needed a kick in the ass or what, but he's playing the way the Braves had always hoped he would play - getting on base, stealing, manufacturing runs, and even hitting for power at times. His defense has also improved.

...and now that the trade rumors seem to have only been rumors, the question is "What do we do w/ Betemit once Chipper comes back to play 3rd" ?

I see Betemit spending the remainder of the season on the bench & being a valuable pinch-hitter - especially in the late innings of the post-season.

v

Everyone loved Furcal when we thought he was only 21.

[The Sheck]

Word 'round the campfire is that Bret Boone will be released by the Twins within the next week if he can't get his act together...

[sabos_glasses]

Word 'round the campfire is that Bret Boone will be released by the Twins within the next week if he can't get his act together...

Yeah, I remember from his Cincinnati days, when that guy is struggling, he REALLY struggles.


The only highlights he has anymore are in his hair....hahaha.

[Handy Smurf]

Steroids
he and Luis Gonzalez both...steroids
Oh wait, I forgot, all 31 year olds set career highs in HRs and RBIs for 4 straight seasons

[crazybob60]

I haven't read this whole thread so I don't know if this has been brought up yet, but what is going on with Craig Biggio this season???

[The Sheck]

Rumor is that Bill Mueller and Kevin ('Moneyball') Youkilis might go to MN for J.C. Romero and Kyle Lohse.

[crazybob60]

Rumor is that Bill Mueller and Kevin ('Moneyball') Youkilis might go to MN for J.C. Romero and Kyle Lohse.

personally...terrible move for MN.

[the happy prole]

If there's still superstar pontential in Betemit, I think they'd rather have their MLB hitting coach working with him everyday as he doesn't appear to be learning it in the minors. I've seen him play several times. He definitely has that stud air in the way he looks and moves. He also makes a lot of bad errors and his plate discipline is atrocious. He's young still... but not young enough to dismiss that.

If you check out his MLB stats, he actually showed amazing discipline the first month or so he was up but since then he's swinging (and missing) at everything. I think the Braves are hoping for the best, but probably don't see him as anything more than a utility player. He's not good enough with the glove to play SS everyday and Andy Marte is the long term solution at 3rd.

[Handy Smurf]

Rumor is that Bill Mueller and Kevin ('Moneyball') Youkilis might go to MN for J.C. Romero and Kyle Lohse.
Ugh, would you be excited aboot that?
Thats one of the least attractive trades I've ever heard...
Aren't the Twins looking to add more power?

[The Sheck]

Ugh, would you be excited aboot that?
Thats one of the least attractive trades I've ever heard...
Aren't the Twins looking to add more power?

Youkilis is one of the top hitting prospects in baseball. Mueller is essentially a rent-a-player, which would give the Twins a top draft choice at the end of the year when he walks. Any of them is better than who the Twins can put at 3rd.

Losing Romero would be rough, but he's known for being a headcase and stubborn, so getting him out of the clubhouse might be good. The Twins could stick Francisco Liriano in there for now. He's been compared to Johan Santana, is only 21, and will be ready by September. Lohse reminds me of Eric Milton. He's always *this* close to breaking through to becoming a great pitcher, but never does. Better to let another team figure that out, I say.

I swear the Pierzyenski trade to San Fransisco two years ago will turn out to be one of the Twins's best in franchise history. (A.J. for Joe Nathan, Liriano, and another top pitching prospect in case you forgot.)

[the happy prole]

I'm a firm believer that if you don't have a good baseball name, you will not be a star. Doesn't matter how good your stuff is or how many tools you got, no one succeeds with a bad name.

With that in mind, I don't think Boof Bonser is going to pan out for the Twins.

[Handy Smurf]

Nathan was the only one I knew for sure. I've never heard Youkillis to be that highly regarded. He came out of UC a couple years ago and while I might be wrong, I dont believe he was drafted too high...maybe in the 7th or 8th round. I honestly doubt he'd do much as a big leaguer. He's 26 now, will be 27 by Opening Day next year and doesnt have more than half a seasons worth of big league ABs under his belt(total for his career)
I dont understand why Boston would trade their top 2 3B anyway

[The Sheck]

I've never heard Youkillis to be that highly regarded. He came out of UC a couple years ago and while I might be wrong, I dont believe he was drafted too high...maybe in the 7th or 8th round.

Dood. You need to read Moneyball if you haven't already. Great book.

[the happy prole]

The whole point of Moneyball was to look for undervalued skills. At the time, it was OBP. And that's Youkilis's speciality. He can bat .280 and walk a lot, nothing special in speed or power. He's a solid player and that's definitely something valuable to small market teams.

But I think pretty much every GM in the game-- including Beane himself-- would rather have Dallas McPherson or Andy Marte.

[Handy Smurf]

Dood. You need to read Moneyball if you haven't already. Great book.
what does the fact that Youkilis is old and incredibly inexperienced have to do with Moneyball? ;) (Or the fact that Youkilis and Mueller are the top 2 3B in Bostons organization for that matter?)
And I have wanted to read that book.

[Handy Smurf]

But I think pretty much every GM in the game-- including Beane himself-- would rather have Dallas McPherson or Andy Marte.
or David Wright

[The Sheck]

what does the fact that Youkilis is old and incredibly inexperienced have to do with Moneyball? ;) (Or the fact that Youkilis and Mueller are the top 2 3B in Bostons organization for that matter?)
And I have wanted to read that book.

Bellhorn can play 3rd right? Don't they have Hanley Ramirez waiting in the wings, too?

[crazybob60]

Bellhorn is hurt too, isn't he?

[the happy prole]

Yeah, he's hurt. They'd have to go with Graffanino.

I don't think they will trade both their 3rd basemen, but trading one of them for pitching help from the Twins makes sense.

[The Ugly Thief]

HUGE 3 game series starting here in Atlanta tonight - Braves vs. Nationals !

:cool:

v

[Dumb Hick]

Go Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Handy Smurf]

you better hope the Nats make a move soon Hick, theyre falling apart. If Bowden doesnt get the freedom to go out and get nasty on some poor unsuspecting GM, the Braves will walk away with this division

[the happy prole]

The Nationals were just incredibly lucky in the first half and their luck just ran out. It isn't something they can fix via trade, or at least not with Bowden.

I know! Maybe they can get ANOTHER outfielder to add to the Preston Wilson, Termel Sledge, Marlon Byrd, Brad Wilkerson, Ryan Church mix.

[Dumb Hick]

you better hope the Nats make a move soon Hick, theyre falling apart. If Bowden doesnt get the freedom to go out and get nasty on some poor unsuspecting GM, the Braves will walk away with this division

The Nats are the closest team to me and I hav just recenly become a fan. I agree that they are defitley goin' down hill lately. Especcialy on offense. THem big boys better start hittin' the damned ball!

And they just put our best releif pitcher on the waivers! Oh well...I hope we gets some hitters fer him.

[The Ugly Thief]

I still think they should have named the new Washington team the Senators. Were they unable to do that because the name Senators is legally bound to the Minnesota Twins, or did they just not want to name them that ?

v

[The Ugly Thief]

Go Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Message to Frank Robinson : Thanks for taking Livan Hernandez out after the 8th.

appreciate that :p

v

[the happy prole]

It's the Texas Rangers that own the rights to "Senators." Selig probably could have stepped in and forced the Rangers to give it up, but that would require:

1) Selig to know his head from his asshole, and
2) Selig to actually have a set of balls.

And if he had either of those two things, baseball wouldn't be in such a mess with steroids, Washington would have had a team two years ago (WITH Vlad Guerrero), and the Brewers wouldn't suck.

[The Ugly Thief]

It's the Texas Rangers that own the rights to "Senators."ah....ok - thought it just stayed w/ Minnesota after they initially moved there.
Selig probably could have stepped in and forced the Rangers to give it up, but that would require:

1) Selig to know his head from his asshole, and
2) Selig to actually have a set of balls.
LOL !!!

oh man, i laughed so hard when i read that !

v

[The Ugly Thief]

http://www.madlantern.com/clipart/clips/construction/broom.gif


...and just like that the Braves take over the NL East by 3 games

v

[sabos_glasses]

...and just like that the Braves take over the NL East by 3 games


Yep, it was a good series for them.

[The Sheck]

The Washington Nationals will finish the season below .500.

[jcarwash31]

Torii Hunter has a broken ankle and will be out at least a month and possibly the season. Not good. The Twins are falling fast and need to get something clicking to stay in the race.

[jcarwash31]

Word 'round the campfire is that Bret Boone will be released by the Twins within the next week if he can't get his act together...
Well it happened. (http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050801&content_id=1154078&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min) The Twins released Boone yesterday and recalled SS Jason Bartlett who will, once again, be the everyday SS.

[RedRigmaJacket]

the tribe took a half game lead over the twins last night... :D

[jcarwash31]

TWINS SWEEP 3 GAME SERIES WITH WHITE SOX!

....how can you not win with the lineup they had tonight?

1. Lew Ford CF
2. Nick Punto 2B
3. Brent Abernathy LF
4. Justin Morneau 1B
5. Matthew LeCroy DH
6. Michael Cuddyer RF
7. Terry Tiffee 3B
8. Mike Redmond C
9. Jason Bartlett SS
Johan Santana P

*Abernathy was recalled on Saturday when Juan Castro went on the DL. Abernathy is a 2nd baseman and not an outfielder. Stewart was out of the lineup after straining his groin in the 16th inning in Tuesday's game after he hit the go-ahead RBI.
*Cuddyer is the Twins regular 3rd baseman. This is his 1st start of the year in RF. Jacque Jones sat out again resting his strained oblique.
*Tiffee was recalled from AAA when Boone was released.
*Redmond started in place of Mauer after Mauer caught all 16 innings the night before.
*LeCroy hit 2 HR in tonight's game.
*Santana did not give up a hit until the 7th inning. He struck out 10 and gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 8 1/3 innings.


The Twins are 4 games back in the Wild Card race, 1 game behind the Indians. They are climbing back in.

[The Sheck]

The Twins are 4 games back in the Wild Card race, 1 game behind the Indians. They are climbing back in.

They got a LONNNGGGG way to go yet. What's the deal with Stewart? Is he out for a while? Still, that series was sweet justice.

[Handy Smurf]

TWINS SWEEP 3 GAME SERIES WITH WHITE SOX!

....how can you not win with the lineup they had tonight?

1. Lew Ford CF
2. Nick Punto 2B
3. Brent Abernathy LF
4. Justin Morneau 1B
5. Matthew LeCroy DH
6. Michael Cuddyer RF
7. Terry Tiffee 3B
8. Mike Redmond C
9. Jason Bartlett SS
Johan Santana P

*Abernathy was recalled on Saturday when Juan Castro went on the DL. Abernathy is a 2nd baseman and not an outfielder. Stewart was out of the lineup after straining his groin in the 16th inning in Tuesday's game after he hit the go-ahead RBI.
*Cuddyer is the Twins regular 3rd baseman. This is his 1st start of the year in RF. Jacque Jones sat out again resting his strained oblique.
*Tiffee was recalled from AAA when Boone was released.
*Redmond started in place of Mauer after Mauer caught all 16 innings the night before.
*LeCroy hit 2 HR in tonight's game.
*Santana did not give up a hit until the 7th inning. He struck out 10 and gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 8 1/3 innings.


The Twins are 4 games back in the Wild Card race, 1 game behind the Indians. They are climbing back in.
Huh, hadnt heard the name brent abernathy in a few years :p

funny thing is, how many people outside of minnesota and boston realize that the twins failed to resign david ortiz a few years ago? They wouldve won the world series last year with a bat like that in their lineup

[jcarwash31]

Huh, hadnt heard the name brent abernathy in a few years :p
This illistrates how the Twins' season has been going. Abernathy was first called up in June when both Rivas and Punto went on the DL. He played in 8 games before he suffered a bruised left hand running into a wall trying to catch a foul ball. He was then optioned back to AAA.

He was recalled this weekend after Castro went on the DL and also because Rivas is struggling to hit over .200 in AAA.

funny thing is, how many people outside of minnesota and boston realize that the twins failed to resign david ortiz a few years ago? They wouldve won the world series last year with a bat like that in their lineup
They didn't "fail" to sign him. He was arbitration eligible and was not deemed vital (or something like that) to the club. They tried to trade him after he had a 20 HR season, but as one Twins' exec said "We couldn't even get a bag of baseballs for him". He was having problems staying healthy and the Twins thought that LeCroy could do what Ortiz did for the Twins. I really liked Ortiz and was sad to see him go.

Who knows if the Twins would have been able to keep Ortiz? How much would he have gotten out of arbitration? Do you give him a multi-year deal when you have no idea what kind of production you will get out of him? In hind site it was a mistake.
What's the deal with Stewart? Is he out for a while?
He was sore yesterday and kept out of the lineup, but was available to pinch hit/run. So, he is day-to-day.

[jcarwash31]

Twins made a waiver claim for Alfonso Soriano. I doubt they will get a trade done, but it would kick ass if they did.

[The Sheck]

Twins made a waiver claim for Alfonso Soriano. I doubt they will get a trade done, but it would kick ass if they did.

Not if they want Baker and Liriano still. Lohse, Romero, and a semi-decent prospect may be enough.

[The Sheck]

Twins made a waiver claim for Alfonso Soriano. I doubt they will get a trade done, but it would kick ass if they did.

It needs to be completed by tonight if it happens. I don't know if Soriano is the answer (or if it's too late anyhow), but I'd go to a game during September to see him bat 4th.

[jcarwash31]

It sounds like it was a more of a move to block a trade to another team (perhaps the White Sox, Yankees, or Indians). I don't think the Rangers are going to change their stance on Liriano or Baker.

[The Sheck]

It sounds like it was a more of a move to block a trade to another team (perhaps the White Sox, Yankees, or Indians). I don't think the Rangers are going to change their stance on Liriano or Baker.

Probably not, but you never know. Romero's good, Lohse and Mays would improve the Ranger's pitching stance a whole bunch.

[jcarwash31]

3-way tie for the AL Wild Card lead. The Twins are 2.5 games back and the Blue Jays are still hanging on at 5.5 back.

[jcarwash31]

I went to the Twins game last night and it was a fantastic game. Santana vs. Garcia. There were 3 great catches: 1 by Stewart, who left the game after the catch because he hit his shoulder hard into the wall, 1 by Jermaine Dye, who was slow to get up after hitting the wall, and 1 by Lew Ford.

Santana pitched 8 shutout innings giving up only 3 hits and 1 walk. Garcia pitched 7 shutout innings and brought a no-hitter into the 8th when Jacque Jones hit a deep blast to center. Garcia gave up 1 hit and allowed only 3 baserunners (1 BB, 1 E). Nathan came in in the 9th and got the save.

Great Game!!

[chuxxter]

The Washington Nationals will finish the season below .500.
Not true. No wild card but .500 or above because their pitching is too good. Same story with my boys, The Mets. Can't get excited over standings with a team this inconsistent on the road, but a vastly improved team over last year. Will finish somewhere over the .500 mark, but no playoffs.

[The Sheck]

I went to the Twins game last night and it was a fantastic game. Santana vs. Garcia. There were 3 great catches: 1 by Stewart, who left the game after the catch because he hit his shoulder hard into the wall, 1 by Jermaine Dye, who was slow to get up after hitting the wall, and 1 by Lew Ford.

Santana pitched 8 shutout innings giving up only 3 hits and 1 walk. Garcia pitched 7 shutout innings and brought a no-hitter into the 8th when Jacque Jones hit a deep blast to center. Garcia gave up 1 hit and allowed only 3 baserunners (1 BB, 1 E). Nathan came in in the 9th and got the save.

Great Game!!

I saw it on TV. Best one of the year so far. Could this spark the Twins back into the race?

[The Sheck]

Not true. No wild card but .500 or above because their pitching is too good. Same story with my boys, The Mets. Can't get excited over standings with a team this inconsistent on the road, but a vastly improved team over last year. Will finish somewhere over the .500 mark, but no playoffs.

Althought the gap has diminished of late, teams who give up more runs than they score finish at .500 or lower usually. Check the W-L records for yourself.

I suspect the main reason why Washington is an anomaly so far is the lack of quality play in the NL West. The inverse of the NL East is happening here. It seems unfair the Padres will make it in when teams like the Phillies, Marlins, and Astros will sit this postseason out.

[chuxxter]

Althought the gap has diminished of late, teams who give up more runs than they score finish at .500 or lower usually. Check the W-L records for yourself.

I suspect the main reason why Washington is an anomaly so far is the lack of quality play in the NL West. The inverse of the NL East is happening here. It seems unfair the Padres will make it in when teams like the Phillies, Marlins, and Astros will sit this postseason out.
Imagine how i feel. My team would be 3 or 4 games up in first place. Right now we are tied for last. I cannot dispute your findings, but I just have a feeling about the Nats. Maybe I'm just giving Frank Robinson too much credit.

[The Sheck]

Imagine how i feel. My team would be 3 or 4 games up in first place. Right now we are tied for last. I cannot dispute your findings, but I just have a feeling about the Nats. Maybe I'm just giving Frank Robinson too much credit.

Don't get me wrong, the Nats are the feel-good story of the year in baseball. I'd love to see them make it in, but they still need another bat or two before the Aug. 31st deadline.

[chuxxter]

Don't get me wrong, the Nats are the feel-good story of the year in baseball. I'd love to see them make it in, but they still need another bat or two before the Aug. 31st deadline.
Agreed. National League Wild Card is going to be...Houston. Pitching is everything. I only hope the Yankees miss out on all the playoff fun.

[The Ugly Thief]

National League Wild Card is going to be...Houston.
If that ends up being the case, then I would rather be the Braves than Cardinals during the playoffs.....much better to play a 5 game series against the NL West winner than against Houston.

who would want to face Clemens twice in a 5 game series ?

v

[chuxxter]

If that ends up being the case, then I would rather be the Braves than Cardinals during the playoffs.....much better to play a 5 game series against the NL West winner than against Houston.

who would want to face Clemens twice in a 5 game series ?

v
Almost makes you feel sorry for the Cardinals, doesn't it? The NL West should be excused from this years playoffs on grounds of incompetence. Let's have 2 wild cards instead!!

[Artpunchehorse]

I think the Marlins take the WC. I predicted Flordia v Anaheim before the season

[The Ugly Thief]

y0 - Pedro Martinez HAS to be hurt or something ! I watched him pitch against the Braves the other night & the highest his fastball got was 91 - and that was a rarity ! Most of his pitches were in the high/mid 80s.

v

[crazybob60]

Is anybody else but me sick and tired of hearing about oh Barry Bonds this, and Barry Bonds that and how he is returning this weekend. I could care less. They are now saying just because of his return the Giants will be like so much better and now are poised even moreso to make the playoffs. Me personally, it is gonna screw with this team's chemistry that they have developed over the course of the season with playing without Bonds and I think it is gonna hurt them rather than help them.

[jcarwash31]

Is anybody else but me sick and tired of hearing about oh Barry Bonds this, and Barry Bonds that and how he is returning this weekend. I could care less. They are now saying just because of his return the Giants will be like so much better and now are poised even moreso to make the playoffs. Me personally, it is gonna screw with this team's chemistry that they have developed over the course of the season with playing without Bonds and I think it is gonna hurt them rather than help them.
Either way, they are 7 games behind the Padres with less than a month to play. I know the NL West is piss poor this year, but Bonds isn't going to help the team enough to pick up 7 games on the Padres.

[The Ugly Thief]

Bonds isn't gonna do SHIT ! He's gonna leave LA & move into his luxury condo in SF, bang his SF slut that is shacked up there, and tell everyone how he is happy to be playing again, but "not quite 100%".

v

[The Sheck]

Jayson Stark has some pretty cool tidbits in his Useless Information (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2161116&num=0) column this week.

[The Ugly Thief]

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/images/standings/magic_numbers/y2005/atl_0.gif

now we get to look forward to facing Clemens twice in a 5 game series

v

[Handy Smurf]

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/images/standings/magic_numbers/y2005/atl_0.gif

now we get to look forward to facing Clemens twice in a 5 game series

v
How bout those Pirates?







;)
I wont stop, by the way

[The Ugly Thief]

How bout those Pirates?







;)
I wont stop, by the way

uh.....ok

v

[the_birds]

Astros pitching is looking good right now. We need to lock down the Braves and get some timely hitting. It would be nice to see Baggie back, if for nothing else than to let Berkman and Ensberg see some more better pitches...

[The Sheck]

Angels are in. Looks like the A's are out of contention.

[The Ugly Thief]

Astros pitching is looking good right now. We need to lock down the Braves and get some timely hitting.since I'm assuming the duties of the Braves camp representative, let me tell you that NOBODY is looking forward to facing the Astros in a 5 game series. Seven games ? Different story. 5 games ? It's going to be tough & the Astros basically have a team which was built to win the Wild Card & then cause havoc in the playoffs : 3 great pitchers who all have the potential to shutdown a lineup on any given day when they are "on", and mucho power. That's the perfect formula for stealing playoff games.

v

[crazybob60]

Did you guys see the hit that Wily Mo took against the wall last night?

[Artpunchehorse]

Did you guys see the hit that Wily Mo took against the wall last night?

I haven't seen it yet but from Picero said on the radio today, Wily decided to drive when he was already on the warning track.

He's a HUGE liability in the outfield.

[crazybob60]

I haven't seen it yet but from Picero said on the radio today, Wily decided to drive when he was already on the warning track.

He's a HUGE liability in the outfield.

Essentially he dove at the warning track and then went head and shoulder first smack into the wall at full speed, it didn't look pretty at all!

Also, how bout the FO of the Reds resigning Narron for next season...will they ever learn...oh that's right, we are talking about the FO of the Reds. Why don't they just copy the playbook from the Bengals over the last 2-3 seasons instead of the Bengals FO playbook from the 90's?

[Jonathan]

since I'm assuming the duties of the Braves camp representative, let me tell you that NOBODY is looking forward to facing the Astros in a 5 game series. Seven games ? Different story. 5 games ? It's going to be tough & the Astros basically have a team which was built to win the Wild Card & then cause havoc in the playoffs : 3 great pitchers who all have the potential to shutdown a lineup on any given day when they are "on", and mucho power. That's the perfect formula for stealing playoff games.

v

Really? Even though, up until last year (and face it, that's just one time out of many), the Astros would have been better off changing their name to "Atlanta's Bitch"?

[The Ugly Thief]

Really? Even though, up until last year (and face it, that's just one time out of many), the Astros would have been better off changing their name to "Atlanta's Bitch"?
All those times they beat the Astros in the playoffs were before the Astros had Clemens, Oswalt, and Pettite as their starting rotation.

I don't know, maybe I've become a pessimist when it comes to the Braves in the playoffs. It's gonna be iffy no matter who they play. The Braves aren't exactly what I would call a well-oiled machine. The pitching is going to be relying upon the starters to get to the 7th or 8th (because the middle relief is all but non-existant). The hitting is extremely streaky. In any game Andruw Jones could either strikeout 2 times and hit into a double play, or he could end up hitting 2 HRs and a double, same with Francoeur. The entire lower half of the lineup is not exactly reliable (Langerhans, LaRoche, and McCann). I expect people to consistantly pitch around Chipper & Andruw to take their chances with runners on base against that lower half. So, I think a lot of the games may be decided by how they can hit w/ RISP.

v

[Jonathan]

I don't know, maybe I've become a pessimist when it comes to the Braves in the playoffs.

I can't imagine how that could have happened. :p

That said, you have my full support. I freakin' HATE the Astros.

[sabos_glasses]

I've never seen a regular season game with such a playoff atmosphere than this Yanks/Sox game.

By the way Yankee pitcher Wang really looks like Danny Graves.

[The Sheck]

The Washington Nationals will finish the season below .500.

Well, I was close. Missed it by one game. :)

If you go by Runs Scored/Runs Against, the shocking team was Toronto. They scored 75 more runs than they allowed, yet finished 80-82. :confused:

To put this somewhat in perspective, based on win totals from this year, Toronto should have won somewhere between 86-88 games. I didn't really follow them too much this year, but what happened? I know they lost Halliday for a while, but did the offense not click or something? How was their fielding?

Florida should have lost a lot more games than they did, and the Mets should have won more. They both finished with 83-79 records.

Congratulations to the Cincinnati Reds, who led the National League in runs scored! Unfortunately, they also gave up the most runs. Almost 5.5 per game.

Maybe the Twins and Reds can work on a deal that would be mutually beneficial this offseason.

[The Sheck]

jcarwash, did you hear Toronto is willing to trade Koskie back to the Twins...for Justin Morneau?

That ain't gonna happen.

[jcarwash31]

jcarwash, did you hear Toronto is willing to trade Koskie back to the Twins...for Justin Morneau?

That ain't gonna happen.
How generous of them. Trade an aging, slumping semi-slugger with chronic back problems (but is still a good defender) for a very young slugger who will hit near .300 and probably have a few 40 HR seasons and is improving defensively *knock on wood*.

The Twins outrighted Rivas, Ryan, and Abernathy. They are interested in trying to resign Abernathy, but Rivas and Ryan are gone.

[jcarwash31]

Matthew LeCroy is gone and Joe Mays is essentially gone. Al Newman left to become an advance scout for the Diamondbacks. This offseason is going to be very interesting for the Twins.

Hopefully they will bring in Paul Molitor as the hitting coach and move Scott Ullger back to 3rd base coach.

[The Sheck]

Matthew LeCroy is gone and Joe Mays is essentially gone. Al Newman left to become an advance scout for the Diamondbacks. This offseason is going to be very interesting for the Twins.

Hopefully they will bring in Paul Molitor as the hitting coach and move Scott Ullger back to 3rd base coach.

Definitely. It seems like Mays is gone though, having complained over every decision made about him this year.

[jcarwash31]

Definitely. It seems like Mays is gone though, having complained over every decision made about him this year.
They bought out his contract for $500,000 rather than taking his 2006 option of $8.5 million. Mays said he was willing to restructure his contract, but it sounds like Terry Ryan is going to let Mays file for free agency and may talk with him on a new deal after that. So he is all but gone.

I wonder if Lohse is going to be back or is the rotation set as Santana, Radke, Silva, Liriano, Baker? Will Hunter be traded, like he suspects? Will Jones be back? Is it either Hunter or Jones and not going to be both? How many years does Mulholland have left? :p

[The Sheck]

They bought out his contract for $500,000 rather than taking his 2006 option of $8.5 million. Mays said he was willing to restructure his contract, but it sounds like Terry Ryan is going to let Mays file for free agency and may talk with him on a new deal after that. So he is all but gone.

I read in the Pioneer Press that he didn't make too many friends with the coaching staff, so he probably won't be back. But who knows?

I wonder if Lohse is going to be back or is the rotation set as Santana, Radke, Silva, Liriano, Baker?

The second part.

Will Hunter be traded, like he suspects?

If the Twins are smart, they will do no such thing.

Will Jones be back?

Not with Kubel ready to go.

How many years does Mulholland have left? :p

What is he, 42? He wants to pitch 'till he's 50 I heard so he can get his AARP card and still play.

The Twins should deal Romero for Bill Mueller and then kick the White Sox in the nuts by signing Konerko to play 1B/DH. The lineup could look like this...

LF Stewart
3B Mueller
C Mauer
1B Konerko
DH Morneau
CF Hunter
RF Kubel
2B Cuddyer/Punto
SS Bartlett

That's a solid lineup.

[jcarwash31]

If the Twins are smart, they will do no such thing.
I'm just a little worried that they may take a Hunter vs. Jones approach and since Jones has a big advantage salary-wise, they trade Hunter and move Jones to CF (since it's his natural position anyway).

Not with Kubel ready to go.
Yeah, the only reason Jacque was back this year was because Kubel got hurt. I really hope this kid hits as well as advertised.


What is he, 42? He wants to pitch 'till he's 50 I heard so he can get his AARP card and still play.
It really is amazing what he is doing. He's 42 and he still has a rubber arm, or close to it.


The Twins should deal Romero for Bill Mueller and then kick the White Sox in the nuts by signing Konerko to play 1B/DH. The lineup could look like this...

LF Stewart
3B Mueller
C Mauer
1B Konerko
DH Morneau
CF Hunter
RF Kubel
2B Cuddyer/Punto
SS Bartlett

That's a solid lineup.
I could get on board with that.