cubfan33
07-24-2002, 11:52 PM
It's a late night edition and I'm working on some breaking behind the scenes stuff, so tonight will be short and sweet. So, that means no opinions on Seligula, on Don Fehr's comments that labor problems are "solvable," and nothing on President Bush. I will direct you to a great chat that Baseball Prospectus' Gary Huckaby had today, which included a question from yours truly. My one non-injury note is an invitation: On August 17th, not only is it Ben Sheets Bobblehead night at Victory Field in Indianapolis, it will be the annual UTK/Netshrine/Around The Majors get-together. If you're interested in attending, please contact me for more details and I will have things up on the website soon. This is your chance to meet myself and staff writer Rachael Reid as well as some of the characters from Netshrine. We'll also have several guests and will serve up some of the tastiest micro-brew in the Midwest. Better yet, Victory Field is perhaps the best stadium in baseball. No charge for the get-together, but you will need to buy a ticket to the game.
Doug Creek was sold to the Mariners for cash. Good for the Devil Rays, turning a replacement level player into something useful. I don't think this move is indicative of further problems in Tampa. If you want to worry about a team, look at San Diego. Majority owner John Moores is under investigation by the SEC for accounting irregularities. While he likely won't end up in handcuffs, like the owners of the Buffalo Sabres, the Padres may be a little cash poor in 2003. Is this a bad thing or will it help Kevin Towers get that team younger (and likely better) even faster? Don't be surprised to see Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko on the market in the off-season.
Ted Lilly was placed on the DL with an inflamed pitching shoulder. Never good news, especially as the A's battle with the Mariners and Angels. Aaron Harang was called back from Sacramento to replace him. Beane is reportedly still working hard to add Brian Giles to his lineup and I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab a pitcher as well now, likely a fifth starter/swingman type. Lilly does not have a history of health problems or shoulder injury, so this is not as worrisome as many injuries. As well, he will be well protected by Rick Peterson.
Sean Casey, as mentioned last night, is suffering from a torn muscle in his shoulder and moves to the DL. Adam Dunn will fill in at first while Casey is out, while Brandon Larsen and Reggie Taylor will man left. Expect Larsen to see quite a bit of time out there, since he's often mentioned in trade rumors and showcasing him helps that cause.
Upstate, Jim Thome is also injured, scratched with recurrent back "stiffness." I emphasize stiffness to differentiate it from the former "spasms." While missing time is never good, this does show some progress in the injury. Losing Jimmy Warfield can't have helped that training room.
Mike Sweeney was finally placed on the DL, retroactive to July 15th. The wait seems wrong, but since the Royals have been winning and playing well, I'll call this one as no harm, no foul. There's no new news on Sweeney, but I'm still dubious of the oddly positive MRI report.
Midwestern first baseman, beware! (Someone check on Fred McGriff and Paul Konerko!) Tino Martinez left the Cards game tonight with back spasms and Albert Pujols moved over to first. Larussa indicated that Pujols will likely play there as long as Martinez is unavailable. I'm working my Cards sources for a better report on Martinez's condition.
I reported that Jorge Posada was hit by a foul ball. Thanks to all the readers that take the time to correct me. Posada was in fact hit by Milton Bradley's backswing. Worse, Bradley did nearly the same thing to Chris Widger later in the game. Bradley needs to fix that swing or he'll be dotted soon. Pitchers always take care of their catchers.
It was worse than expected for Jeff Zimmerman. The MRI he had is reported to show major structural damage and he will seek a second opinion from Lewis Yocum early next week. No confirmation yet from the Rangers, but the rumor is that Tommy John surgery is upcoming. If that occurs, write off another year for Zimmerman. Rangers fans have to be watching tonight's start by Kenny Rogers in Seattle closely. If Seattle is making a play for him, I don't see as good a package of prospects coming out of Seattle as was offered from Cincy.
Ok, ok I couldn't resist ... Al Leiter for 10 million a year at his age? It may work out, but if I'm the MLBPA it's tough to hear the owners cry poor and then sign checks for this kind of jack.
Bobby Estalella's season is done after shoulder surgery. Ben Petrick is still in left field for the Rockies. Ok, explain it to me, Clint. If I were Ivan Rodriguez, THIS is where I'd sign that one year deal.
Chris Richard is ready to return for the Orioles. Man, when the O's get him and Jeff Conine and David Segui back, look out ... they may give Toronto a run for third in that division next year!
Chad Hermanson is on the DL with a dishwashing injury. Harsh. It's listed as a staph infection, but the Red Sox medical staff denies that it's flesh eating bacteria. I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer for the first flesh eating bacteria listing, along with Mad Cow and Ebola. Sigh.
Brett Myers vs Mark Prior? Even to a Cubs fan like me, Myers - on this day - looked better. If he's available in your league, I'd love to join because he should have been snapped up quickly. (BTW, I am looking for an auction based, preferably live draft Scoresheet league for next year.)
The Brewers trade away Tyler Houston and open up a roster slot. Good. They call up Izzy Alcantra instead of Jimmy Rushford. Bad, unless the Brewers are expecting brawls in the near future. Actually, Izzy was a very nice guy when I met him, though I wish he'd had pants on at the time.
The Diamondbacks and Nippon Ham Fighters signed an agreement today to strengthen their relationship, starting with a player exchange for spring training. Great move by the D-Backs. I can remember when I was first starting to follow Japanese baseball that I spent weeks trying to figure out what a "Ham Fighter" was. Who knew that all Japanese teams were named for the companies that owned them and that Nippon Ham was Japan's Hormel. I used to have a list of what each company was, so if anyone happens to have this info, please email me. I know purists would go nuts, but I wouldn't mind the Budweiser Cardinals, Fox Dodgers, or Safeway Giants. Ok, Tribune Cubs might get to me, but no one complains about Wrigley Field.
Condolences to the family of LSU 3B Wally Pontiff. The 21 year old A's draftee was found dead this morning in suburban New Orleans. Any death of someone this young is tragedy, but let's hope he lived a good life in the time he had ... and remember to do the same each day in our own lives. With that, I'm out. As I said, I'm working on something and may have a special report sometime tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow night.
Doug Creek was sold to the Mariners for cash. Good for the Devil Rays, turning a replacement level player into something useful. I don't think this move is indicative of further problems in Tampa. If you want to worry about a team, look at San Diego. Majority owner John Moores is under investigation by the SEC for accounting irregularities. While he likely won't end up in handcuffs, like the owners of the Buffalo Sabres, the Padres may be a little cash poor in 2003. Is this a bad thing or will it help Kevin Towers get that team younger (and likely better) even faster? Don't be surprised to see Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko on the market in the off-season.
Ted Lilly was placed on the DL with an inflamed pitching shoulder. Never good news, especially as the A's battle with the Mariners and Angels. Aaron Harang was called back from Sacramento to replace him. Beane is reportedly still working hard to add Brian Giles to his lineup and I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab a pitcher as well now, likely a fifth starter/swingman type. Lilly does not have a history of health problems or shoulder injury, so this is not as worrisome as many injuries. As well, he will be well protected by Rick Peterson.
Sean Casey, as mentioned last night, is suffering from a torn muscle in his shoulder and moves to the DL. Adam Dunn will fill in at first while Casey is out, while Brandon Larsen and Reggie Taylor will man left. Expect Larsen to see quite a bit of time out there, since he's often mentioned in trade rumors and showcasing him helps that cause.
Upstate, Jim Thome is also injured, scratched with recurrent back "stiffness." I emphasize stiffness to differentiate it from the former "spasms." While missing time is never good, this does show some progress in the injury. Losing Jimmy Warfield can't have helped that training room.
Mike Sweeney was finally placed on the DL, retroactive to July 15th. The wait seems wrong, but since the Royals have been winning and playing well, I'll call this one as no harm, no foul. There's no new news on Sweeney, but I'm still dubious of the oddly positive MRI report.
Midwestern first baseman, beware! (Someone check on Fred McGriff and Paul Konerko!) Tino Martinez left the Cards game tonight with back spasms and Albert Pujols moved over to first. Larussa indicated that Pujols will likely play there as long as Martinez is unavailable. I'm working my Cards sources for a better report on Martinez's condition.
I reported that Jorge Posada was hit by a foul ball. Thanks to all the readers that take the time to correct me. Posada was in fact hit by Milton Bradley's backswing. Worse, Bradley did nearly the same thing to Chris Widger later in the game. Bradley needs to fix that swing or he'll be dotted soon. Pitchers always take care of their catchers.
It was worse than expected for Jeff Zimmerman. The MRI he had is reported to show major structural damage and he will seek a second opinion from Lewis Yocum early next week. No confirmation yet from the Rangers, but the rumor is that Tommy John surgery is upcoming. If that occurs, write off another year for Zimmerman. Rangers fans have to be watching tonight's start by Kenny Rogers in Seattle closely. If Seattle is making a play for him, I don't see as good a package of prospects coming out of Seattle as was offered from Cincy.
Ok, ok I couldn't resist ... Al Leiter for 10 million a year at his age? It may work out, but if I'm the MLBPA it's tough to hear the owners cry poor and then sign checks for this kind of jack.
Bobby Estalella's season is done after shoulder surgery. Ben Petrick is still in left field for the Rockies. Ok, explain it to me, Clint. If I were Ivan Rodriguez, THIS is where I'd sign that one year deal.
Chris Richard is ready to return for the Orioles. Man, when the O's get him and Jeff Conine and David Segui back, look out ... they may give Toronto a run for third in that division next year!
Chad Hermanson is on the DL with a dishwashing injury. Harsh. It's listed as a staph infection, but the Red Sox medical staff denies that it's flesh eating bacteria. I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer for the first flesh eating bacteria listing, along with Mad Cow and Ebola. Sigh.
Brett Myers vs Mark Prior? Even to a Cubs fan like me, Myers - on this day - looked better. If he's available in your league, I'd love to join because he should have been snapped up quickly. (BTW, I am looking for an auction based, preferably live draft Scoresheet league for next year.)
The Brewers trade away Tyler Houston and open up a roster slot. Good. They call up Izzy Alcantra instead of Jimmy Rushford. Bad, unless the Brewers are expecting brawls in the near future. Actually, Izzy was a very nice guy when I met him, though I wish he'd had pants on at the time.
The Diamondbacks and Nippon Ham Fighters signed an agreement today to strengthen their relationship, starting with a player exchange for spring training. Great move by the D-Backs. I can remember when I was first starting to follow Japanese baseball that I spent weeks trying to figure out what a "Ham Fighter" was. Who knew that all Japanese teams were named for the companies that owned them and that Nippon Ham was Japan's Hormel. I used to have a list of what each company was, so if anyone happens to have this info, please email me. I know purists would go nuts, but I wouldn't mind the Budweiser Cardinals, Fox Dodgers, or Safeway Giants. Ok, Tribune Cubs might get to me, but no one complains about Wrigley Field.
Condolences to the family of LSU 3B Wally Pontiff. The 21 year old A's draftee was found dead this morning in suburban New Orleans. Any death of someone this young is tragedy, but let's hope he lived a good life in the time he had ... and remember to do the same each day in our own lives. With that, I'm out. As I said, I'm working on something and may have a special report sometime tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow night.