Trade deadline..........rumored moves

A couple of quick thoughts about the Yanks potential moves before the trade deadline.

Tonight, there was a rumored report circulating that the Yanks had agreed, in principle, to a Tyler Clippard, Bret Gardner (AAA center field prospect) for Eric Gagne trade. I like this deal a lot from the Yanks perspective. Gagne reportedly wants to close but will make the perfect set up man for Rivera. He has NASTY stuff, still some of the best in the majors, and a bulldog mentality. Now some will argue that two high quality prospects (B grade both of them but still very good) is a lot to pay for a oft-injured reliever who views himself as a closer, but Gagne may very wekk decide that being a set up man in NY is the same as being a closer, would get paid virtually the same amount of he did the job, and might want to stay on after this season is over. If that is the case, the Yanks would have a dominant set up man with closer experience backing up Rivera. That would obviously not only help down the stretch with this season but also with next season.

Right now, there have been no REAL trade talk with the Yanks, in terms of them being close to getting someone, so let's just take a quick look at the names they have been connected with, either strongly connected or loosely connected.

Jon Garland - This one was thrown out there a few days ago as a possibility but it appears that Chicago is asking for a king's ransom for him. Now, even on the Sat. before the trade deadline, prices are going to remain high as teams try and get the better deal, so the asking price for Garland may go down. Regardless, I don't really like this move for the Yanks, this year. Garland is a good pitcher having a very mediocre season. Giving up a lot to get him now, with a pretty much set rotation, seems like a waste of ressources to me. Where does Garland fit into the rotation? Wang, Pettite and Clemens are locks in the top three spots, Mussina isn't losing his job almost no matter what he does, and Phil Hughes is about to come back and take the 5th spot in the rotation. Who should Garland replace on that staff? Perhaps Mussina, but Moose is going to get the benefit of the doubt from this team, and this manager for the remainder of this year AND next year. And Phil Hughes is your future, a stud pitcher who could help now and will only improve as time goes by. You aren't stunting his growth at all for Jon Garland. So while it seems a long shot, it should be a no brainer to stay away from this deal at all costs.

Mark Teixeira - Again, this seems like a long, long, long shot, but the chances of the Yanks getting back involved in this, in my opinion, go up everyday Tex isn't traded. On the surface, it would appear The Braves are the front runners, but a source within the Braves indicated tonight that their deal for the Texas first baseman is dead. That is significant because it appears the Braves were the only team in the mix that was willing to give up their prime prospect for the slugger. If The Braves have, indeed, pulled out of the race for Teixeira (and are unwilling to give up Salimacchia in the deal) that would throw the Rangers back into a mix with a group of teams all offering their A- to B+ players. It would seem to me that, if the Rangers relented on their notion that any Yankee deal would HAVE to include Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain, then the Yanks would be right in the mix. They have deep young pitching talent and some decent position players to throw Texas' way, plus a reliever in Scott Proctor who could be turned into a starter, and could be successful as one. Could Ian Kennedy, who just threw great in his first game in AAA, be a chip Texas would be interested in? Why not? If the Yanks did not have fireballer Chamberlain in their system right now Kennedy would more than likely be the organization's top farm player. Texas needs pitchers and a nice package of players (some MLB ready, come only a year or two away) may be enough to get them back in the hunt for a bat that would be utterly indespensable. If there is one deal I would LOVE to see this team pull off, it would be a Tex trade.

Wilson Betemit - This was a hot rumor about a week ago and has died off. Now, however, with Ty Wiggington being traded, the Betemit deal might ratchet up again. At 26 Betemit is no longer a youngster, but he is still young, and many have believed for a long time that the switch hitting infield multitasker could be a very good everyday starter for a team, once he learned plate discipline. He has very good power, a Soriano like quickness to his bat and a very good glove at almost any position on the infield.

He hasn't come close to his potential, but the potential is still there, and while the Yanks would pay for Betemit on the low end they could realistically get themselves a great bargain. If the bigger deals fell through I would have NO problem putting a deal together for Betemit and stick him at first base for the remainder of the year.

Adam Dunn - I didn't buy this rumor when I first heard it, but in case the rumors are in the least bit true I wanted to add my comments: Are you FUCKING kidding me?

Dunn is a strike out machine that has a mediocre at best OBP, is a rally killer, can't play any kind of defense and has been rumored to be a less than committed athlete who would rather party all night with the friends than settle down and committ to doing what he needs to do to improve. I just don't see how that helps the Yanks at all. They already have Giambi coming back in a few weeks and while I am not the biggest Giambi fan, at least he gets on base and seems to care whether the team wins or loses. Trading any chips for Dunn would be in my mind, foolish and hopefully the deafening silence surrounding Dunn being moved lately signals that the Yanks are not involved at all.

With Ty Wiggington being moved, the Yanks being told that Brad Lidge is unavailable (the Astros asked for Hughes or Chamberlain, which in my mind is the same as them saying he is not available) and some other relievers being traded over the last few days the Yanks have not been linked to anyone else (at least from what I have heard), so now, let's look at some of the current Bronx Bombers who have been rumored to be on the block.

Johnny Damon - This comes from one ESPN report that the Braves would be interested in grabbing Johnny Damon. I have to believe this deal has more of a chance of happening if three things fall into place: 1.) the Braves land Teixeira and believe they can make a HUGE playoff push, 2.) the Yanks agree to pick up a good chunk of the remaining salary left on Damon's contract (two more years at $13 mill a year) 3.) the Yanks accept they are not getting the cream of the crop of the Braves organization back for Johnny.

With all those moving parts it is hard for me to see a way that Johnny, who is now hitting a whopping .242, gets moved but, if it could be done, and the Yanks could swindle a nice player or two away from the Braves (who always have a great farm system) it might very well be worth it. Damon was signed by the Yanks in 2005 after the Red Sox decided the early thirties center fielder was gonna begin to break down, significantly. At the time I thought the Sox could be making a huge mistake, letting a premier leadoff hitter, still only 31, go for something that had not happened yet (injuries). However, it appears they might have been right about him. Damon has been breaking down since before last year and his injuries seem to just be mounting. He is never healthy. He has the body of an 80 year old man. It effects every aspect of his game and he has become somewhat of a liability for a team that just can't afford to have a light hitting DH AND a light hitting lead off man.

Why make a deal for Damon? Namely because you already have a young, cheap, getting-better-everyday center fielder on your team in Melky Cabrera and because it doesn't appear that Damon's injury bug is going to go away anytime soon. Maybe he regains some of his past performance but it appears that Damon's career path doesn't include playing in the league for 20 years. Some guys are never injured, some guys are always injured. That's the way it works, and Damon seems to be someone who will always be injured. With that being the case, and the Yanks already having a center fielder for the future, Damon's value to the team is limited. If a package of decent players is put together for him, it might be time to cut and run.

Bobby Abreu - This, to me, is a harder sell, which is strange because, between Damon and Abreu I like Damon more. Injured or not, Damon plays gutty baseball. Abreu, who has had a miserable season without the benefit of blaming it on any injury, is everything Phillie fans warned Yankee fans about when the team traded for him last year. He gets on base, takes a lot of pitches, and couldn't get a big hit to save his life. He is a front runner hitter. He is a guy who, when the rest of the team is smacking the ball around, he'll join in. When the team is getting 2 hit in the seventh, he isn't gonna be the one to break through. He never starts a rally and almost always kills one. His defense in right field has been, in my mind, sub par, highlighted by his complete reluctance to go back on a ball for fear of running into the wall, a reluctance that actually signifies his entire make up as a player.

Yet, saying that, I am not sure the Yanks should move Abreu before the trade deadline. Reports/rumors are the D-Backs would have an interest in him, and considering the fact that they seem to be inquiring around about every bat that might be on the market, it isn't that hard to believe they might be in play for a guy like Abreu. On the one hand a trade with the D-Backs could be a real coup, as the team gave away decent quality last year for Randy Johnson and may be willing to part with more good talent for a younger, healthier player in Abreu who could help this year and for years to come. On the flip side, while Abreu's game lends itself to complete disgust on my part, who are you gonna replace him with if he is traded? Damon is easily replaced by Melky who, right now, is a better player. Who would slide into Abreu's spot if he were traded? The two best young outfield players the Yanks have in their system right now are at A ball and appear at least two years away from the bigs. There are no other quality names on the market to fill that hole. So while I would LOVE to move Abreu now for almost anything, it seems a pipe dream unless the Yanks had something else lined up to fill a corner outfield hole. Because of that I look for Bobby to finish out the year with the Yanks and move on from there.

Scott Proctor - I still like Proctor, even though his desire to give up the most home runs in the history of the sport is a bit annoying at times, but he seems the most likely chip the Yanks have to move, Proctor is valuable to teams for a number of reasons: he is a durable reliever, he throws hard, he has good stuff, he could potentially be a closer, and he could also potentially be a starter in the big leagues, something the Yanks considered doing almost every year. What could that bring back to the Yanks in a trade? Well, the rumor was Ty Wiggington, but Wiggy got traded to the Reds last night, so that is out. However, many other teams seem ready to explore a trade for Proctor and, if the Yanks get Gagne, Proctor becomes more than expendable. He becomes the perfect chip to throw out there for another team, one that has value to everyone, a team in contention that needs a solid reliever or a team on the cusp that could take a chance on Proctor and either try the tough nosed rightie as a closer or turn him into a starter. Proctor is the Yanks best chance to bring something of value back without diving head first into the farm system and giving up too much.

Kyle Farnsworth - This isn't even worth talking about at length. Other deals made, no deals made, team one game out, 10 games out, HET RID of Farnsworth. If someone, namely the Tigers, want to bite on that piece of shit please, please, PLEASE let me know where he needs to be picked up and I'll drive him. If the Yanks make one move this trade deadline I hope it will be moving one of their big mistakes out. Whatever you get for him is enough.

Kei Igawa - Igawa falls into the same category as Farnsworth. I am shocked someone would want him but it appears the Mariners may very seriously be interested. If that's the case, again, MOVE HIM NOW!!!!!!! Igawa has been a bust and, unlike Jose Contreras, I don't believe there is any chance of Igawa going off and finding himself on another team to the tune of the ace of the staff. Could he get better in a different environment? Possibly, but his stuff is so mediocre the only thing one could expect it would be a mediocre pitcher. Again, if the Mariners want him, if they think teaming him with Ichiro, who seemed to express delight at the idea of adding the Japan native, would make a difference DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!

After that there isn't much on the horizon for the Yanks. With two days to go anything can always happen but, it appears the Yanks won't be major players for the big names (unless they get back in on Teixeira).

Hard to get up off the mat on this one..............

If there is one sport that couldn't take a hit to it's credibility, it's the NBA.

It's like catching a cold when your immune system is depleted. Sure, when everything is looking good and going right, when your body is strong, you can handle a virus. You wait it, sweat it out and eventually it goes away. But when the body is already weak, when everything is being done just to bring it back to a small level of working order, even the simplest of illnesses can be deadly.

For any league, even one that is healthy, the specter of fixing games is like the Ebola Virus. There's no guarantee that you can come back from it. For the NBA, who has been on life support now for a while, looking for anything to bring it back to respectability, the infection is devastating.

Enter Tim Donaghy, the 13-year veteran ref who has alledgedly, for the past two or three seasons, be engaged in a point shaving scam devised by the mafia to protect his image and settle steep gambling debts. Donaghy has been involved in playoff games, has ref'd playoff games and championship games during that time, and his influence on the sport cannot be diminished. He has been in a position to effect the outcome of some of the more important games in the league over that time, something he seems likely to have done now intentionally.

What does this mean for the league?

It introduces "reasonable doubt" into the minds of every fan. Of course, as is the nature of our culture today, this will quickly be relagated to late night humor status, and that "humor" will trickle down to the arenas and the fans all over the league. Donaghy chants will be heard any time a questionable call is made. Confusing, almost non existent fouls will be scrutinized and refs and the league will have to defend itself constantly against a steady stream of questions surrounding the legitimacy of the game calling.

But the truth is what is SOOOO damaging to this sport is that, for a long time, the credibility of the league has been clouded by speculation. That speculation was usually only voiced in a hap hazard, comical, sarcastic manner. Fans who hated the refs would joke about their "motivation" in calling a game a certain way but there were very few earnest feeling behind those jokes. In all, 90% of the people believed there was no real conspiracy, only woeful incompetency (bad enough). Deep down they may have wondered if there were something more to it but realistically they thought "there's no great conspiracy here, just a bunch of dim wits running around."

Now, that small part of each fan that may have thought "there is something more here" is the large part of how they look at the game. It was buried deep behind innuendo but now it is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Donaghy won't be the only one implicated in this. ALL refs will be implicated, simply because they are refs, they will make bad calls, and they will make mistakes. Those mistakes were thought to be just that before. Now, they will be looked at as calculated efforts to influence a game.

The reach of this is truly overwhelming. First, this isn't going away anytime soon. Donaghy hasn't even turned himself in. We have no idea how many games he influenced, how many points he may have shaved, when those games were and what teams it influenced. Was someone's chance for a title derailed by Donaghy wielding his magic whistle? Was someone's playoff hopes dashed by a game in February where Donaghy placated his mafia bosses? Those are all questions that will inevitably be asked and answered.

Second, and perhaps most important, were there any other people involved in this scandal? The NY Post reported today that some federal invesitigators expect Donaghy to turn himself in by Tuesday and, when he does, to flip on other refs and perhaps even players who were involved in shaving points. Having Donaghy at the center of this is bad enough. If it came to be that he was simply the first domino to fall in a huge conspiracy it would deliver a death blow to the league. How could the fans ever trust another game if it came out that certain players were "in on the fix" for some games? Is it out of the realm of possibility? Not at all.

Finally, the NBA has gone out of it's way to try and protect the refs, going so far as to fine Mark Cuban about $300 mill over the course of tha last few years because of his constant complaining about officiating. Now, the NBA will have to rethink how it does EVERYTHIN, especially in terms of the refs. It will HAVE to be open. It will HAVE to be transparent. And it will have to be thick skinned. Refs are going to have to be made available for questioning. They are going to have to be willing to open up and admit mistakes when some are made. They are going to have to go out of their way to convince the fan base that their calls were made because of what they saw rather than what they were trying to accomplish.

Since the departure of Michael Jordan the league has been treading water. Stars in the making, saviors of the Association spring up and die off almost every year. Troubles seem numerous, leagues seem unbalanced, ratings are down, attendance is pretty stagnant (although still good) and the sport has definitely secured a place as the third wheel in this battle of the big three (NFL, MLB, NBA).

Since the end of the Cavs, Pistons series there has been no good news for the league (and even that good news came after yet another tough season overall).

But this is the end game right here. This is the knock out blow. This one will put the NBA to the mat. Will they get up? Probably, but the question isn't whether the stagger back to their corner with their head still screwed on straight, the question is can they recover from this blow to get back into the fight?

With at least 5 or 6 more months of accusations and discolsures about to come out, it seems as if this year will be one of the darker ones in NBA history. And when your game isn't that compelling to begin with success may be a lot further off than may think.

If David Stern ever had any dramatic ideas about how to improve the league, now would be the time to take that chance. Sadly, he may have nothing to lose.

A-Rod aint goin nowhere

It's a simple game of math really.

When Alex Rodriguez sit down at the end of this year and map out which team gives them everything they could want, everything the could leverage with an opt out, who shows up at the top of the list?

Say it loud and say it proud: The New York Yankees.

The consensus seems to be that A-Rod will be looking for a new home because of all the off field "distractions" that come with playing for the Yanks. Want to hang out at a strip club all night with a hot blonde who you are decidely NOT married to (which is probably why you are hanging with her at a strip club all night)? The NY media will catch you. Want to sun bathe on a rock in central park so everyone from a monther of four to a Russian satellite can spot your gleaming pecks? Some ass will be there with a camera to snap a few for the tabloids. Go 0-80 in the playoffs? A whole host of fat, pompous coumnists and talk show hosts will make their living ripping you in every way they can think of. So..........logic dictates to some that A-Rod is gone. The fans booed him all last year, his relationship with Derek Jeter is obviously more strained than Lindsay Lohan's knees at a bachelor party, and someone, somewhere will pay him what he wants.

Here is the question though; if you're A-Rod is number one goal really to get OUT of the limelight?

There are only a few places that would truly be interested in signing A-Rod to the type of money Boras has been talking about ($30 mill a year); the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Mets, the Cubs, the Dodgers, the Angels. Could a sleeper team pull a Texas and jump in at the last minute, say a White Sox or a Tigers? Sure, but I doubt that. So let's assume the first grouping is truly the only grouping that matters in this game of A-Rod.

The Mets are out of the running right off the bat, unless they decide that the two corner stones of the franchise for the next 15 years, Jose Reyes and David Wright, are just too popular and too cheap for their liking. Highly unlikely. The Cubs spent a fortune last year to get their team back to respectability, have dragged their feet signing Carlos Zambrano on a hometown discount contract that would be considerably cheaper than what A-Rod will get, are in the midst of being sold, and unless they could expedite the process of selling the team to Mark Cuban in a hurry (provided they pull their heads out of their ass and realize Cuban would be GOOD for baseball) it is doubtful he would be in on the A-Rod auction. So take the Cubbies out of the running.

The Red Sox? You gotta believe that, with all the slings and arrows that have been directed at A-Rod from both the stands in Boston and the dugout (and the players blogs, interviews, etc...) it would be low on A-Rod's wish list to reside for the rest of his career in Beantown. Can you imagine Rodriguez struggling in Boston? How about if he didn't live up to expectations? It would make what happened with A-Rod at the Stadium last year look like an episode of Oprah.

The Dodgers have the money and the need for a big bat (and star power), but they have a load of great young talent, a tendency to keep prices lower than the other big spenders in the game, and have not floated any real feelers out there about A-Rod. Plus, A-Rod, according to accounts, would prefer to stay in the A.L.

So, in my mind, that leaves the Yanks and the Angels as the major bidders for A-Rod.

Art Moreno has never shied away from saying how much he loves A-Rod, but you have to wonder how much the Angels would legitimately give A-Rod for a yearly contract. Are the Angels REALLY gonna give him $30 mill a year? Possibly, but what/how do you turn to your star right fielder, the face of your organization in Vlady Guerrero and say "hey, we love yah, but we are gonna give this other guy double your salary." That would almost ensure Vlady storming into Art Moreno's office and asking to "look" at his contract one more time.

Plus, the Angels seems to be looking into acquiring Troy Glaus, a 31-year old power hitting third baseman who fits PERFECTLY on that team, the team he previously played for, provides the big bat behind Vlad they have been looking for, comes locked up for another three years, and comes at significantly less than A-Rod would. Would the Angels love A-Rod? Of course, but do they NEED him?

The AL West is significantly weaker than the AL East, so the need for A-Rod is not as great. If the Angels brought back a healthy, underrated Juan Rivera, brought in a big bat in Troy Glaus, combined that with their good pitching, good defense and Mike Scosia-esque style of play (plus a few big young guns in the minors on the way) and the Angels are gonna be a big team for a long time to come.

The Yankees actually NEED A-Rod more than the Angels. The Yanks are not blessed with tremendous young position players coming up through the minors. Johnny Damon might be done. the Jason Giambi era probably can't end fast enough for most in the Yankee organization. It is doubtful whether the Yanks will pick up/look to resign Bobby Abreu after this year, Robinson Cano has not come on as the type of power hitter many expected he would become, and the free agent market seems pretty barren in terms of big name power bats. A-Rod is the major piece to the engine. He is the big cog. He is a huge draw. He is, whether you like him or not, one of the best and biggest players in the game today. The Yanks NEED that kind of bat in the lineup for many years to come.

But the Yanks are gonna offer a king's ransom to keep A-Rod here, we know that. So the question will be does A-Rod want to stay?

How could the answer really be no.

A-Rod has put up monster years in the past, but he's done it in the relative obscurity of Seattle and Texas. Since coming to the Bronx, whether it is good press or bad press, A-Rod has become a name that transcends sports. You KNOW A-Rod's name, even if you don't know baseball. Some stars are stars within the confines of the game. Anyone reading this probably knows Vernon Wells or Miguel Cabrera is. But does the average Joe sports fan know? Probably not. But ask them who Jeter is, who Bonds is, who Big Papi or Manny is, and they will probably know. Those names have become a part of our lexicon. A-Rod is in that discussion.

If he goes to The Angels, the Dodgers, that star goes down. Even if he goes to The Cubs, that star goes down. There is NO PLACE like The Bronx, and A-Rod, as astute as he is, will understand that. His star is as high and bright as it will ever be, and going somewhere else will only diminish that.

What about history?

Well, if you want to be remembered, be a Yankee. Having your number retired at Yankee Stadium actually means something outside of Yankee Stadium. Do we know who is retired at Comisky? Nope. Do they have monuments to those who have been retired in San Fran? Don't think so. But if you're A-Rod and you sign an extension that will keep you in the Bronx for a total of 10+ years, you're gonna have your number retired here, no question's asked. If you're A-Rod, you might be looking at a monument.

Plus, when you pass the all time home run record about to be set by Barry Bonds and return it, possibly for good, to the Bronx, your star will be even brighter.

But how about those pesky fans? Will they ever accept him?

Derek Jeter is the captain of the Yanks, has four rings and is one of the all time great clutch hitters. No one is gonna knock him off his horse. However, A-Rod seems to have accepted that fact and is playing looser and happier than he has in his past three years. The fans have accepted him. They chant MVP when he comes to the plate. He isn't booed for the sake of booing him. A-Rod may never eclipse Jeter, but he will be a fan favorite (provided he doesn't mess up in the playoffs again).

Plus, an extension (with all the bells and whistle that come along with it) would put A-Rod on this team for a decade. He would no longer be some free loader looking for a championship. He would be here for a long, long time. The fans would begin to appreciate what they are seeing from him.

And does Alex Rodriguez really want to go to his fourth team? Great players, historic players like A-Rod change teams once, maybe twice, but multiple times gets a little strange. A-Rod can be a Yankee for the rest of his career, be on a team that will give him a chance to win EVERY year, and be one of the biggest stars in sports year after year.

Considering no one is gonna outbid the Yanks in terms of money, does it really seem THAT logical that A-Rod would want to leave the team?

When you look up at the Yankee lineup in 2012, my guess is A-Rod will be playing third base and batting fourth. Whose batting third is a bigger, less definite issue.

The finishing touches

You know, the recent All Star game got me thinking.

Baseball has been run through the ringer the last few years. Every home run hit has had the smell of steroids surrounding it, the home run race of 1998 (which saved the sport as we know it) has been tarnished forever, the home run records, formerly the most important records in all of sports, are about to be cheapened by the most egregious abuser of roids this century, a commission has been established to invesitgate the issue by baseball, Congress continues to keep their eye on the sport, and African Americans seem less interested in the national pass time than ever before, games still last too long, not enough kids are interested in the game, and ratings for everything from All Star games to world series games have been on the decline.

Yet the sport is awash in money, so much so that Alex Rodriguez is poised, if/when he opts out of his contract, to sign a deal worth over $30 mill a year. Attendance has skyrocketed all over the country where even less competitive teams seem to be drawing better than they ever have. The sport has finally achieved what it always desired, a reasonable amount of competitive balance, where the majority of the teams in the majors routinely find themselves within striking distance of a playoff birth come September each year. And the stars of the game are STARS, eclipsed by no other players on sports (except for the skill position players in the NFL perhaps)

So baseball has a chance to truly take off over the next several years. The owners and the players seem to be at peace, the luxury tax (a poor mans salary cap) seems to be acceptable to everyone involved, and the money is flowing.

But some things still need to be taken care of. Just a few housekeeping tips for Bud Selig and company to sure up the loose ends.

Let Mark Cuban in the party.

When I heard that Mark Cuban was looking to buy the Chicago Cubs I was ellated. Cuban is a perfect owner. He spends money. He treats players well. He loves to win and hates to lose. He wants to make the experience of watching a sport as enjoyable as possible for the fans. And he is a character, someone who will make for good press and interesting quotes. He'll challenge baseball when it needs to be challenged, but he'll also help market the game as effectively and aggressively as he can. He has made Dallas Mavericks basketball, once about as dead as Cherry Coke, the "in" team to root for in a city that only usually cares about its Cowboys.

So, you can imagine how shocked I was to hear that Cuban is considered a long shot to buy the team. Why? Not because he doesn't have the money (he's got plenty of that, and so do the other investors he would be buying with). It isn't because his track record in another sport has been bad. It is evidently because Jerry Reinsdorff, owner of the Chicago White Sox seems to think Cuban is a fool and an embarassment to the NBA and Bud Selig seems to agree. Now, is it shocking that the owner of the Chicago White Sox wouldn't want Cuban owning oh, I don't know, THE CHICAGO CUBS? Does anyone really believe that Reinsdorff has a personal problem with Cuban and that his motives don't include keeping a successful sports owner out of his town?

Please!!!!!! Cuban is good for sports. He makes an ass out of himself. He cares about the game. he is young (comparatively speaking) and outspoken. And he knows how to successfully run an organization. Am I missing something here? Does MLB really think the over-the-top, sometimes foolish actions of Mark Cuban will be a detriment to the league? Does he really think Cuban is gonna jump out onto the field and argue with umps over balls and strikes?

Come on. You know this guy would make it his business to ensure that the Cubs were contenders every year. He would dump money into the team. He would be hands on. And he would be someone to always add a little interest to the sport. Here's a clue: guys like Mark Cuban, who can get under your skin sometimes, can make you laugh sometimes, can make you cringe sometimes...........they are good for sports. George Steinbrenner, and his "in your face" style of ownership has been great for baseball. Cuban would be as well. Would he make his presence felt? Of course he would, but why is that such a bad thing? Some people will love him, some people will hate him, but he will bring a winner to Wrigley and baseball headlines to your local paper.

And why is this a bad thing again?

Someone wake Peter Angelos up

I just realized today how bad the Orioles have been for how long. Nine straight losing seasons? The Orioles? That can't be right, can it?

Well, it is. The Orioles, once one of the proudest franchises in baseball, is an afterthought each and every year, and the future doesn't look that much brighter. So an improved Baltimore Orioles team makes baseball better. They have great fans, they have great tradition, they have still one of the most attractive ball parks in the world and they should have the revenues to compete with the big boys in their division.

So how do we get the Orioles back on track? Here are some ideas: Keep Miguel Tejada and build around him. Watch as Nick Markajis grows into a big time baseball star. Bring up James Brucy, a big time, young minor league outfield prospect, and throw him out there. Build your rotation around Eric Bedard and Daniel Cabrera. Build your bullpen around Chris Ray. Aggresively pursue trades that would benefit the team now and in the future. Get a star the fans can identify with.

One move I would love to see? I want to see Jarrod Saltimacchia on the Orioles. He is the next great catching star in this league, a power hitter and a great defensive player. Adding him to the team would give the Orioles another big, young bat, along with Markajis, Brucy and Tejada (who isn't that young anymore at 31, but is still young). Give up a few prospects and get Jason Giambi. At DH, Giambi (35) could still give a team four or even five years of power numbers. Sure, he'll make a trip to the DL every once in a while, but he will hit for power, get on base, is good friends with Miguel Tejada, and can help groom the younger guys, showin them the ropes.

Brian Roberts, new third baseman Nick Markajis, Tejada, Giambi, Saltimacchia, Jay Gibbons, Brucy, Paterson has the makings of a very formidable lineup for years to come, one that would be balanced with home run power, average potential, and a good mix of young players and old vets. Considering the fact that the Yanks and Red Sox have holes, the Orioles making a comeback shoule be a possibility.

You aint gotta go home, but ya gotta get out of here

Tampa Bay needs new ownership and a new home. It amazes me that baseball would look down on Mark Cuban being an owner yet seems to have no problem with an inept ownership group in Tampa that has put together argueably the least appealing franchise in baseball history. There is nothing interesting about the Devil Rays. Tropicana Field is depressing, even to watch a game on television requires a good quanity of prozac. Their uniforms are drab. Their team plays infront of no one. Their fans know they have no chance. And the young, quality players they seem to have never, ever have a chance to stay with the team. More than any other franchise they are in a constant rebuilding mode.

Tampa Bay needs to move. Where? How about Orlando? That keeps baseball in the immediate area, put the team in a bustling town that has supported basketball and should easily be able to support baseball, is a constant attraction for both locals and out of towners, and is swimming in money.

No to Orlando? How about Nashville? Nashville just barely missed out on the Expos when they were moved to DC a few years back. They have the facilities and they seem to have the interest. Baseball would have no competitors in the area, as Nashville baseball would be the only game in town. And, again, it would be a thriving, bustling metropolis compared to Tampa Bay.

The point isn't the place the Rays move to, the point is that they need to move and need to move soon. If baseball could get their act together in the next year or two it might actually be enough time for the Rays to hang onto the likes of Carl Crawford, Delmon Young, BJ Upton, Scott Kazmir, and perhaps even Rocco Baldelli, or at least hang on to enough of them to stay competitive. Of all the teams in major league baseball no other needs a new home more desperately. It is the ONLY hopeless case in the sport.


And as for that other team in Florida.................

As opposed to The Devil Rays the Marlins have tradition. That's right, I said the Marlins have tradition. Think about it, in the last 90+ years of baseball who has more world series championships, the Florida Marlins or the Boston Red Sox? That's right folks, the Marlins have reached the summitt of the baseball world twice since coming into the league in the early 90's. They have put together great teams, and promptly sold those teams off, but they have brought rings and trophies to southern Florida multiple times, and that is something only the Marlins can boast.
So what do they need? Well, the Marlins also need a new home, but unlike the Devil Rays they don't need a new home in a new town. Miami can easily support baseball, and has in the past. They have packed a football stadium, dealt with the Florida rain storms, dealt with the Florida bottom dwellers, watched as teams they grew to love were traded off like beaver pelts in some old barter town of the wild west, and still they have come back. Not in droves, mind you, but they are there.
What the Marlins need is what they have asked for time and time again, a new stadium with a new roof that protects them from the 40+ rain outs they seem to incur every single year. According to reports early this year the Marlins, who have seen their hopes for a new stadium ebb and flow seemingly with every month since 1998, now believe a plan is in place to build a $450 million domed stadium just north of downtown Miami. This would be the perfect scenario.
Now is the time for baseball to step in and try, as hard as they can, to make this happen. They don't need to relocate a team that doesn't need relocation. The tragedy would be if the Marlins left for greener pastures in a town like San Antonio while the devil Rays continued to wallow in the ninth circle of hell called Tropicana Field. Give the Marlins a new ballpark, new revenue stream, an excited fan base, with a base of good players and one of the best farm systems in baseball? Jeffrey Loria, a man destined to become a Steinbrenner or Lucchino or Wilpon (put your money where your mouth is owners) would have the Marlins competing with the Mets and Braves every year for an East title.

Willie McCovey cove? Meet A-Rod alley

During the All Star Break Alex Rodriguez was as giddy as a school boy about the friendly confines of Pac Bell. That isn't shocking, considering how gorgeous that stadium is rumored to be. But A-Rod was overally enthusiastic. He seemed like someone shopping for a new home. And while I count myself as an avid baseball fan, and believe that there is still a very good chance the Yanks open up the wallet for A-Rod at the end of the year, what is honestly BEST for baseball is for A-Rod to trek on over to San Francisco and inject an incredible amount of excitement into that franchise.
Barry Bonds may or may not come back next year, but if he doesn't the Giants will have $22 milll freed up to go after A-Rod. They have the pitching already in place, with Zito not nearly as bad as he has pitched (look for him to rebound in either the second half or next year) Matt Cain poised to be an ace for years and years to come, Tim Lincecum a possible challenger to that ace mantle breaking into his own, and Noah Lowry slated to be one of the most solid number four starters in the league today. Did I mention each one of these guys is under the age of 30? That's not bad looking into the future.

The problem has been, and continues to be offense. Will A-Rod automatically turn the team around? No, they will have to make other moves. But with A-Rod in the starting lineup for the next 7 to 10 years, and the Giants looking at having the two record holders for home runs (A-Rod is gonna pass Barry Bonds eventually, unless he breaks his knee somewhere along the way), the team would have a reason to invest some money in a few other pieces to make the team a competitor in a deep NL West. But the Giants are baseball royalty and having a winning team in the Bay area would be a real asset to baseball as a whole.

Why would A-Rod be perfect? Because he would be one of the biggest stars on a huge stage poised to lead a team that hasn't won a world series in well over 50 years. Sure, he could go to the Cubs, but their future looks bright with or without A-Rod. They are buying into Sweet Lou, have HUGE hitters locked up for years to come, have good pitching in Zambrano (who you have to believe they will lock up eventually), Lilly, Hill and some nice prospects in the minors. They are on the up and up. A-Rod could go to the Angels but, again, the Angels are gonna be in the hunt for AL West titles and world series rings for years to come as well. They have a great nucleus, one of the great minor league systems in the game, big prospects on their way up, and while they would LOVE to have A-Rod, they don't NEED him.

The Giants NEED A-Rod. Let's say they get A-Rod. How about pairing A-Rod with Jermaine Dye, who will be a free agent at the end of the year? A-Rod and Dye could combine for a terrific one-two punch, and it would allow A-Rod to move back to SS, where he desperately wants to play, leaving the door opened for 17-year old phenom 3B Angel Vilalona to make his impact on the majors in the next few years. The Giants can fill in gaps here and there, but with A-Rod and Dye, combined with what should be one of the best pitching staffs in the leagues, the Giants should be players in the division for years and years to come.

Woud they break the bank for two players? Possibly, but if they did baseball would be better off.

So those are the things that need to happen for baseball to really take care of the final loose ends in the sport. Oakland, D.C., Minnesota all have new parks in the works as we speak and all should find new revenues to play with once they are completed. Ken Griffey Jr. SHOULD be traded back to Seattle to finish his career where it started, and a team that seems to be the real deal in terms of making a push for a playoff spot. After that the sport is chugging along and it seems destined to continue it's run of great success. Now, if Bud Selig and the player's union can find a way to stay out of the way and not screw anything up, things could stay this way for a while.

The future of the Bronx Bombers

Okay, the Yanks continue to play their season long cat and mouse game with .500, with the mouse winning most of the matchups. They just can't seem to get any consistency. They just can't seem to take advantage of the opportunities they are given.

The offense scores in bunches one day, gets shut out the next. The starting pitchers are eratic at best with Rocket Roger Clemens pitching two great games in a row, only to come out and give up the kitchen sink to the lowly Devil Rays last night. The Bullpen continues to be a headache, good for at least 2-4 runs a game for the opposing team, and as great a manager as Joe Torre has been, his handling of the pitching staff still seems to be mystifying with little to no ryhym or reason to it (why, at this point in the season, would you still be treating your lowly bullpen like a first option escape clause when your starter gets in trouble?)

So even though there is a lot of baseball left, and the Yanks MAY have a big run on them (and the run only counts if it leads to a playoff birth), it might not be too presumptous to start thinking about what the Yanks need to do for the '08 season. Some of this could and should be done now. Some of it should be done in the offseason. But ALL of it needs to be done to change the business of the Yanks from controversial explanations to victory celebrations.

Let sleeping A-Rod's lie

The A-Rod saga of "will he, won't he" opt out needs to go away for the rest of the season. There is absolutely no benefit to keeping the story alive, either for A-Rod or for the Yanks. All it does is focus more negative energy and attention on the third baseman and we have seen in the past that it doesn't make for a happy A-Rod. Let the season play out. Baseball has a way of evening things out. It has a way of answering questions for you.

The Yanks may make a huge push and get back into the playoffs, where A-Rod might fail to hit yet again. The Yanks may collapse, with A-Rod having a miserable second half (unlikely, but possible) and the decision may very be an easy one. Or A-Rod may lead the Yanks to an improbable playoff and world series run, making him indispensable. The point is, a lot of things can happen.

But let's say the mostly likely scenario plays out. Let's say A-Rod waits until the end of the year, continues to have a huge year, and the Yanks finish just out of the running. At the end of the season, 10 days after the world series is over, the Yanks have a window to negotiate an extension with A-Rod. Try and work something out there. See what A-Rod is thinking, in terms of money, of his comfort level with New York, with his teammates, and with his future. See what the third baseman is thinking and feeling. And then, try and retain him with an extension past his current deal.

BUT (and this is the most important thing), make sure you have the guts to walk away if he does opt out. A-Rod is a great player but if teams are going to be offering him $35 mill a year, that is a price tag no one is worthy of. The Yanks could EASILY take the money they would save on A-Rod opting out plus the money they would have spent on him and sign two or three high quality players. They could addres hitting and pitching, and do it with players of the highest caliber. If that money is included in on an extension the sting isn't that bad. A-Rod has three more years left on his contract with The Texas Rangers paying a large portion of the remaining salary, meaning that, for three years at least, A-Rod continues to be a bargain. When the other worldly money comes into play, the Yanks would have a lot of money off the books or coming off the books. They would also have time to plan their payroll so the sting wouldn't be that bad.

Signing him to that money NOW would be foolish. As great as A-Rod is, he can't win a game himself, and this year, his shining year, is a great example of that.

Look south young man

The Yanks are always a NOW team, but eventually you have to learn the lessons of experience. The Yanks signed Johnny Damon after the 2005 season to play center. It was a move I liked and applauded. Sure, the money was a little steep, and Boston seemed to be soft on him, but Damon was a good leadoff hitter with decent power. He signed to a four year contract. Now, in year two, Damon is a liability who promises to deliver little on the remaining two and a half years left on his deal. His is broken down physically. His power numbers, his average, his ability to disrupt the game on the bases, have all been incredibly hampered by his injuries. Could he come back next season healthy and spry? Possibly, but highly inlikely.

The point is not to pile on Damon, who would be a productive hitter if his body were cooperating. The point is to say that the Yanks HAVE a good, promising center fielder on the team at the moment, youngster Melky Cabrera, and they might have saved themselves a lot of money and a lot of personnel headaches if they had given Melky a chance last year rather than signing Damon.

The Yanks MUST begin to elvaluate who in their minor league system is worthy of a call up, worthy of a chance, and who isn't. Who are the blue chippers? Who are the big players? When those players are identified, GIVE THEM A CHANCE!!!!! That isn't to say that the Yanks need to have a team full of rookies, but if next year the Yanks decide not to bring back Bobby Abreu or they let Alex Rodriguez walk off into the Anaheim sunset, would it bad a terrible thing to give one of the rookies in the minors a chance to prove their worth rather than waste another $60 mill on a veteran player who will almost certainly pass his prime well before his contract has expired?

Baseball is awash with money. Teams have the cash to sign their big players. They have the cash to committ to the guys who put the fans in the seats and give them an opportunity to be competitive each and every year. That means the days of simply reloading via the free agent market may very well be over. That means developing young talent is not just a luxury anymore, but a necessity.

The Yanks have proven in the past two years that youth can equal immense talent. Chien Mien Wang, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera have all been un heralded callups who have gone on the solidify their place on this team. Whose to say the next Cano isn't waiting in the wings?

OHHHHH, Bobby............OHHHH Bobby

Words cannot describe to you how little I enjoy watching Bobby Abreu play the game. He looks like a man punching in and out of a clock. Everyone you hear laments how much the man loves the game but it certainly doesn't show on the field. HOWEVER!!!!!! The consensus seems to be that Abreu is gone after this season. Why would the Yanks bring back someone batting .270 right now? But here is the problem: if you let Bobby Abreu go, who, exactly, is playing right field? With the looming A-Rod controversy, and the possibility of third base being open next year, Abreu's bat becomes incredibly important. If he hits in the second half, why let him go? His first half of the season has all but guaranteed you'll get him at well below his current $15 mill a year price tag and what are the chances that Abreu will continue to be as bad as he has looked this season? He is never hurt, keeps himself in very good condition, and when right is a perfect fit for this team. Now, if he falls apart completely in the second half, it would make little sense to keep him, but if he returns to his ways why not keep him around?

Abreu is a guy who thrives under the radar. As long as you can continue to take the pressure off of him, he could still thrive. Plus, he is only 33. That isn't old by any stretch these days and a player like Abreu, someone with no history of injury, seem to age very, very well. If he hits in the second half, who is to say that Abreu, who is a decent fielder in right with a good arm, couldn't be a productive player for the Yanks into his late 30's? And, again, it isn't as if the Yanks are awash with great young position player prospects in the outfield. They are far deeper at the infield positions than they are in the outfield.

Go get yourself a big Texan

The Yanks have a hole at first base. There's no question about that. Andy Phillips is a valuable off the bench player but he isn't a starter and never will be, no matter how much the Yanks build up his potential. Doug Mein-alphabet is injured and isn't the answer when healthy, Miguel Cairo filled in admirably for a few weeks but is still a fish out of water at the position, and Jason Giambi's future is as a full time DH, and possibly one for another team after this year.

That leaves a gapping hole at the corner spot.

Enter Mark Teixiera.

The big burly Texas Ranger is 27 year's old, a free agent after next year, a switch hitter with loads of power, a great defensive player, and a guy who desperately wants to go to a winner (meaning he wants out of Texas badly). He is a gritty player who gives his all each game and there is a good chance the star player has his best years ahead of him. By July 31 the Yanks should make getting this first baseman a priority.

Why? Isn't it pitching (especially the bullpen) that wins championships? Yes it is, but the days when a player like Teixeira is available on the market will be limited with the money in baseball right now and Teixeira helps this team right now and in the future. Think about this: If you trade for Teixeira and stick him at first base it gives the Yanks the BEST infield in the major leagues by far (granted Robinson Cano turns it around hitting wise). Now, going into next season, the Yanks would have Teixeira at a discount, having to pay him starting in 2009. By that time Giambi, Pavano, Damon and a whole host of other player's contracts will be off the books, meaning that, if you had to give Teixeira a $20 mill a year contract, the numbers wouldn't hurt that much when it happened to kick in. Let's say you convince A-Rod to accept a contract extension rather than opt out? That would give you an infield of A-Rod, Jeter, Cano, Teixeira for the next 8 years. That is an infield that could DOMINATE the majors for a long time to come. Now, let's say you don't convince A-Rod to stay and you let him go. Well, the blow of losing him is lessened by already have Tex there at first. He provides you with that big, young bat that you need, meaning that you aren't desperate for another bat come the beginning of next season.

A switch hitting first baseman who does it at the plate and on the field? What is there not to love that? Well, the one thing you don't like about it is that the Yanks would almost certainly have to give up one of their prized pitching prospects in any deal for the big righty, and Joba Chamberlain (who has quickly become the new Phil Hughes) would undoubtedly be at the top of that list. Would the Yanks give up such a prized prospect with a cannon for an arm? Well, the Yanks have a plethora of young, talented arms, and some of them MUST be used to acquire new talent. It will say a lot about Chamberlain if the Yanks put a Phil Hughes "don't even ask about him" label, but something for Teixeira should be figured out.

If your selling, someone is always buying

Last year the belief was the Yanks could never, ever get anything for Jason Giambi and his bloated contract (and considerable baggage). Come to find out, had the stocky left handed DH waived his no trade clause the Angels would have been very interested in acquiring him. It just proves that someone is ALWAYS ready to take on talented players, even when it seems like the odds of them regaining form are limited.

This leads us to the before mentioned Johnny Damon.

Again, I don't blame Johnny, but his body does seem to be breaking down. Now would be the time to consider moving him. Someone, somewhere would want the center fielder. He bring leadership and lead off hitting potential, and only two years left on his contract (meaning you aren't strapped into the guy for long if he doesn't pan out). Right now there is no doubt that Melky is the best center fielder on the team and, considering how bad Damon has been, it is hard to believe that Cabrera couldn't be a decent replacement at the top of the order for him. Damon will likely not regain control of the center field job again with the Yanks, making him a light hitting DH. That will just clog up the options available to the team and put Damon in a position not exactly suited for his overall success.

Trade Damon now, get something for him, commit to Melky in center, and begin the process of cutting ties with aged players who just can't do what you need them to do physically anymore.

Also, the Yanks have youngster Jose Tabatta in the minors right now, a star center field prospect who many have compared to the likes of Manny and Andruw Jones (without the considerable power of those two). He is already a GREAT defensive fielder and many feel that he is the future center field star for the team. That means that Melky AND Tabatta may be ready fo patrol the outfield for years to come. Damon is well liked and he is a gamer, but he is a chip the Yanks could move to get something back, even if it isn't the biggest prospect in the world.

It's Zambrano money

Something tells me the Cubs are gonna find a way to get a deal done with Zambrano before he hits the market, but if he doesn't the Yanks need to make him priority number one for the offseason. Zambrano is 25. He is a power pitcher with a gun for an arm and no history of injury problems. He is a horse who pitches well over 200 innings a season. And he is a gamer.

He would also bring a tremendous amount of character and attitude to a team that desperately needs it. Zambrano plays the game with passion without going out of his way to show anyone up. Sure, he may get into a fist fight with Jorge Posada in the 5th of every game, but so what? At least he would have the guts to stand up to Posada, as opposed to some more recent pitcher who chose to go behind his back with his problems:)

Now, Zambrano is going to demand a lot of money but he is worth it, and if the Yanks didn't bring back A-Rod the money would just about even out (especially if you got rid of Damon and brought Abreu back on a discount). Plus, if you decided to give up a Chamberlain in a deal for Teixeira, getting Zambrano would again lessen the blow because, at his best, Chamberlain would HOPE to be Zambrano.

If you could add a 25 year old Zambrano to a pitching staff that seems destined to already feature Chien Mein Wang and Phil Hughes, those are three top pitchers all under the age of 27 years old. That's not a bad pitching staff for the next 10 years at all.

So, if you're keeping score at home, if I had my way the 2008 season would open with this team:

CF Melky Cabrera

SS Derek Jeter

1B Mark Teixeira

3B Alex Rodriguez

LF Hideki Matsui

C Jorge Posada

RF Bobby Abreu

DH (hopefully not Giambi, whose contract the Yanks should buy out) for now, we'll say Shelley Duncan

2B Robinson Cano

Starting rotation:

Chien Mein Wang

Carlos Zambrano

Andy Pettite

Phil Hughes

Mike Mussina