Olney Blog Thread

[Papelgod]

I'll take requests and get to them as soon as I can for any Insider blog. Just PM me your request. Here's Buster's to start with.

Pedro Alvarez, the second overall pick in the June draft, will eventually sign a deal with the Pirates (http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/12/sports/pirates/doc48a10afc1067a789384568.txt) before Friday's deadline, writes John Perotto.
I hope he's right. I hope Alvarez is not caught in the crossfire of negotiations between two serious negotiators -- the Pirates' Frank Coonelly, who was once the caretaker of Major League Baseball's slotting system, and Alvarez's advisor, Scott Boras. Agents who've dealt with Coonelly say they absolutely could see the executive drawing a line in the sand and sticking to it, rather than capitulating in the 24th hour -- no matter the criticism this would engender for the new regime in Pittsburgh. And Boras' history, as we all know, is that he has demonstrated a willingness to keep his players unsigned if he thinks they are not receiving offers commensurate with their perceived value. Just ask J.D. Drew. Just ask Jason Varitek. FANTASY ON THE RISE • Charlie Zink, Red Sox: He got the call to the big leagues (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/08/12/its_a_joint_decision_as_rotation_turns_to_zink/). ON THE DECLINE • C.J. Wilson, Rangers: He's going to have season-ending surgery (http://www.star-telegram.com/284/story/825846.html).
• Shannon Stewart, Jays: He was released (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/476699). See ESPN's Fantasy Baseball page (http://games.espn.go.com/flb/frontpage) But here's the thing: The money that the top draft picks get these days is so staggering, so life-changing, that the idea of not signing seems utterly absurd. It appeared before the draft that Alvarez would likely get $5 million to $6 million in a bonus. He could ensure his future by signing for something in that range -- heck, whether he gets more or less than that, it's going to be big dollars -- and then starting his pro career and putting himself in position to get a lot more. But reportedly, Boras is asking for much more than $5 million or $6 million. Does it make sense to walk away from guaranteed millions to play independent league ball or return to college for another year, while assuming the risk of injury or diminished performance (see Matt Harrington) will damage your value? I just don't see it. I hope Alvarez signs. Three high draft picks for San Diego are nearing the deadline unsigned (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080812/news_1s12padres.html), writes Tom Krasovic. The Phillies reached a deal with their No. 1 pick (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080812_Phillies_Notebook__Phillies_reach_deal_wi th_pitcher_Pettibone.html), for big dollars that are way over slot, as David Murphy writes.
• The Orioles have not yet joined the ranks of teams that have made long-term deals with their youngest stars. Recently, they made a modest offer to right fielder Nick Markakis, and the conversations went nowhere; it's unclear whether the threads of negotiations will be picked up any time soon, or -- more likely -- will be held over until next winter.
• The Rays must make a go of it without Evan Longoria, who will miss three weeks with a wrist fracture (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article767385.ece). The loss of Longoria leaves the biggest hole yet (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article767345.ece), writes John Romano. Scott Kazmir hopes an adjustment he has made will help him (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article767157.ece), as Marc Topkin writes.
• Asked a couple of talent evaluators to assess the D-backs' acquisition of Adam Dunn (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/08/11/20080811dbacksdunn-CR.html). Their take: Evaluator No. 1: "I've got to think that Dunn's presence in the lineup will give them a lift. People will make fun of how all the D-back swings and misses will help cut the air conditioning bill at Chase Field, but they can't deny that his on-base skills and premium power will help. He should take a lot of pressure off the younger hitters in the lineup who try to do too much at times, i.e. Mark Reynolds and Chris Young." Evaluator No. 2: "I've seen him for years, and thought he would be a better player. He has lost the athleticism he had when young. If you have him, you like him for one-third of the season, tolerate him for one-third of the season and hate him for one-third of the season. That being said, he sees pitches and is always a threat to go deep … You hope you get him when he is swinging well. He should be motivated to play in Arizona and he needed to get out of Cincinnati. "His problem might be more on defense, leaving the small left field of Cincinnati for a bigger one in Arizona, and all of the NL West parks are big. He wants to play every day and I think overall it should be a good trade for both teams. The Reds couldn't offer arbitration and the Diamondbacks get some big-time [left-handed hitting] power. I think he will do pretty well with the bat, and once September comes around and you have extra players it will be easy to [substitute] defense for him late." Dunn should fit right in (http://bordowssportsblog.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/11/dunn-should-fit-right-in/), writes Scott Bordow.
• Wrote that the deadline for placing waiver claims on Jarrod Washburn was mid-day Monday; that was wrong. The deadline is today, and the Yankees are not expected to file a claim. Kenny Williams never uttered Washburn's name, in comments contained within this Mark Gonzales piece (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080811-ken-williams-chicago-white-sox,1,1694699.story), but he may as well have; he doesn't sound interested. Meanwhile, John Danks flirted with a no-hitter -- but the White Sox lost (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080811-chicago-white-sox-boston-red-sox,1,3165176.story).
• You can't stop the Brewers; you can only hope to contain them (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080811&content_id=3290501&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil).
• Glen Perkins had a nice 36 hours (http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/26849194.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:a ULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU). Adam Everett blasted another homer (http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/26852494.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:a ULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU). Alexi Casilla could be back soon (http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/26852224.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:a ULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU).
• Barry Bonds made it clear the other night that he hasn't retired. His agent, Jeff Borris, said again in response to a question about whether any team has called to talk about a deal: "No team has called -- nor will they."
• Chris Carpenter will see a doctor (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/DEEDFBA25F4C1630862574A300081551?OpenDocument), writes Derrick Goold.
• Mental errors cost the Marlins in a big way (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/11/a1c_marlins_0812.html). Scott Olsen thinks he'll be OK (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/10/marlins_notebook12.html).
• Time is running out on the Yankees, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and answer the challenge (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/sports/baseball/12yankees.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin). The flat nature of their play Monday was striking: Early in the game, Robinson Cano lined a hit to center -- and then Cano came sluggishly out of the box, jogging toward first. When the ball was bobbled, this slow start cost him and the Yankees a base. Before the game, Joe Girardi said that the lack of hustle had been addressed (http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spynotes0812,0,3543891.story), as Kat O'Brien writes. Mike Mussina has put 2007 behind him (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/sports/baseball/12pins.html?ref=sports), writes Tyler Kepner. Joba Chamberlain won't play catch for the first time until Friday (http://www.nypost.com/seven/08122008/sports/yankees/joba_set_to_start_throwing_124114.htm), as George King writes.
• Josh Beckett was The Man for the Red Sox (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/08/12/beckett_the_ace_trumps_white_sox_danks/). The Red Sox reaffirmed their commitment (http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_red_sox_journal12_08-12-08_R2B6FPU_v8.411f5b5.html) to Clay Buchholz. The guy undoubtedly has talent; he just looks utterly confused, and he has to rediscover his changeup.
• Manny Ramirez had a lot of "Manny being Manny" moments (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_10172552). Andruw Jones could land on the DL (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_10172017). All of these haircuts could work against the Dodgers (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers12-2008aug12,0,6359129.column), writes T.J. Simers.
• The Angels' bullpen keeps getting the job done (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels12-2008aug12,0,2899499.story), writes Chris Hine.
• The Phillies got hammered by somebody they thought about trading for (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080812_Phils_fall_short_vs__Dodgers.html), as Todd Zolecki writes. Brad Lidge says he'll be OK (http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/26860649.html). The Phillies reached a deal with their No. 1 pick (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080812_Phillies_Notebook__Phillies_reach_deal_wi th_pitcher_Pettibone.html), for big dollars that are way over slot, as David Murphy writes.
• Melvin Mora says his resurgence is not connected to the words of critics (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.osnotes12aug12,0,3609348.story).
• There is no relief in sight for the Mets, writes Colin Stephenson, after their bullpen lost another game (http://www.nj.com/mets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1218515794235090.xml&coll=1). Mark Simon of ESPN Research closely follows the Mets, and he sent these notes along: The Mets have lost six games this season in which they've led by 4-plus runs. That's the most for the Mets since their heartbreaking second-place finish to the Cardinals in 1987, when they also lost six games in which they led by 4-plus runs. Those Mets, the defending World Series champs, finished three games out of first place. Most Losses when Leading by 4+ Runs
Single Season, Mets History YEAR LOSSES 1983 7 2008 6 1987 6 • Emilio Bonifacio was benched by the Nats (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102257.html), who are run-starved these days. Within the same Chico Harlan notebook, there is word that Washington has signed a couple more draft picks.
• The Blue Jays pounded Justin Verlander (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Baseball/article/476696).
• All is well for Carlos Lee after his hand surgery (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5937967.html), writes Jesus Ortiz. The Astros got back to .500 (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5937550.html).
• The Tigers keep losing, and Miguel Cabrera keeps hitting (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/SPORTS0104/808120385/1004/SPORTS). Jim Leyland was upset by comments (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/SPORTS0104/808120409/1004) that Gary Sheffield made.
• Yadier Molina gave the Cardinals a big lift (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/C45C1F81585C6B9C862574A3000B3F11?OpenDocument). • Brandon Morrow had a rocky second start in the minors, as he transitions into a starter (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2008107135_taco12.html). The Mariners have a few more things to prove (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/larrystone/2008107128_stone12.html), writes Larry Stone.
• The Royals are going to close off several sections of seating (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/743857.html). Brian Bannister is looking to end his winless streak (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/743863.html).
• Jonathan Sanchez flirted with a no-hitter (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/SP38128UGI.DTL), but the Giants lost.
• Gio Gonzalez learned to throw his curve in an unusual place (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/SP38128UGR.DTL), writes Susan Slusser. Oakland prospects are in the Olympics (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/SPT71292PQ.DTL).
• Skip Caray made a lot of folks laugh at his funeral mass (http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/moore/entries/2008/08/11/thankfully_carays_humor_will_k.html), as Terence Moore writes. FYI: No blog on Wednesday. There will be a blog on Thursday, Friday, etc.

[Draven X 23]

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Thanks

[Papelgod]

For eight teams and more than 200 players, the season will go on past Sunday. For 22 teams and some 600 players, the season ends on Sunday, which is why there is already lots of underground talk about the offseason to come. Ten early thoughts about the forthcoming free-agent market:

1. There is a growing feeling within the industry that the nation's economic struggles are going to have a major impact on the decisions of some teams. Some executives and agents believe a lot of teams might shy away from long-term obligations knowing that the disposable income of many of their fans might disappear -- and disposable income is what the baseball industry relies upon. More clubs may be apt to cut payroll or hold their budgets in place, rather than spend, because of the fiscal uncertainty. Some executives and agents talk about the upcoming offseason and increasingly sound as if they are coastal residents preparing to batten down for an economic hurricane.

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2. As the Giants consider ways to bolster the power in their lineup, GM Brian Sabean can go into the winter knowing that he can probably add a major hammer, if he ever decides to dangle Matt Cain, and two options could be Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. Each of those sluggers has failed to reach long-term deals with their respective teams, each will see their salary escalate quickly through arbitration, and the Phillies and Brewers would love to add a power arm like Cain. "The Phillies could go out and find somebody to drive in runs in their park in place of Howard," said an AL general manager. "But in that bandbox, they will always have trouble finding pitching. Cain misses bats; he'd be perfect for them." And after this season, the Brewers will lose CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets to free agency, at a time when they have emerging position prospects; they can find somebody to play first but will need an anchor for their rotation, and Cain would serve that purpose.
3. Sabathia can do just about whatever he wants to do. If he wants money, it will be there, from the Yankees. Nobody else will come close to what they can and would offer, in the same way that nobody was ever going to come close to what the Yankees were willing to offer A-Rod last winter. If he wants the money, the Yankees might give him a Johan Santana-type of deal ($137.5 million), and if he wants a little more, they wouldn't let a few bucks stand in the way of a deal with the best free agent. If he wants to go home to California, he will be able to do that, too -- but the guess here is that he would probably have to settle for a deal closer to the range of $90 million to $100 million from the Angels, a Carlos Zambrano kind of deal, or maybe even less from the Dodgers, who have been burned by their recent free-agent acquisitions.
4. The first guy I'd go after if I were running a big-market team like the Yankees or Mets would be Derek Lowe. He'll be in demand and expensive, and can probably command the kind of deal Jason Schmidt got a few years ago from L.A. -- three years at $47 million -- but he is 35 years old and is not in a position to demand a five- or six-year deal like Sabathia. And while baseball executives are increasingly shying away from 30-something free agents, in these first years of steroid testing, Lowe is aging well, and there's no reason to think this won't continue. He's a great athlete, he's 14-11 with a 3.29 ERA this season, he has a relatively simple and low-maintenance approach built around his nasty sinker (with a 2.59 GB/FB ratio), and he has excellent command (his 3.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best in his years as a starter).
5. The market for starting pitching, in general, is going to be better than expected, with Sabathia and Lowe and maybe A.J. Burnett, and a solid group of second-level guys. Kyle Lohse has had a strong season for the Cardinals, and in the end will probably be vindicated for not taking the offer from the Philadelphia Phillies last winter. Jon Garland is about to turn 29 and has shown he's good for 12-18 wins; he's already posted six different seasons in which he's won something in that range. Ryan Dempster, a Cy Young candidate, is eligible for free agency, and so is Randy Wolf, who has had a nice season for the Padres and Astros, going [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4087"]12-12 with a 4.30 ERA (http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3608254), at age 32.
6. The best possible free-agent match might be the Cardinals and Brian Fuentes. They have money to spend and a clear need for a lefty reliever and a closer, and Fuentes can be those things.
7. Earlier this week, Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press speculated on a possible trade match between the Red Sox and Tigers of shortstop Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis. It makes a whole lot of sense -- one team's problem for another -- but with one adjustment: The Red Sox would probably prefer Nate Robertson, who is owed $7 million for next year and $10 million for 2010, over Willis. Robertson may simply have a better chance to rebound than Willis, whose complicated delivery makes his recovery … complicated.
8. You can take this to the bank: The Yankees will offer Bobby Abreu arbitration for 2009 and leave it at that. If he takes it, well, they would have a productive player on a pricey one-year deal; Abreu drove in his 99th run last night, as Tyler Kepner writes within this piece (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/baseball/25yankees.html?ref=sports). If he doesn't accept their arbitration offer and and signs elsewhere, then they'll get draft-pick compensation. This approach makes all the sense in the world for the Yankees, no matter who the general manager is.
9. The guess here is that the Red Sox will make a solid two-year offer to Jason Varitek, perhaps with some kind of vesting option for a third year -- and if Varitek insists on a deal of three or four years, then Boston will move on. The Red Sox love Varitek and everything he does for their pitching staff, but they won't be pushed far to keep him, the way the Yankees were with Jorge Posada.
10. The best multiyear deal reached by any team in the past six months might have been a contract negotiated by the Rays with reliever Dan Wheeler. If Wheeler had been a free agent, he might have been the most coveted of the second-level guys, those in line behind the likes of Francisco Rodriguez. Wheeler, who turns 31 this winter, has had a good season (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4170), serving in multiple roles, and he might have commanded something in the range of four years and $16 million. Instead, the Rays have locked him up for $3.2 million for 2009 and $3.5 million in 2010, with an option of $4 million in 2011.
• Pedro Alvarez signed his contract with the Pirates and then held a conference call, and quite simply, he sounded weary -- determined, but weary -- and when he addressed a question about the perception that he didn't have any control in the process and that agent Scott Boras had controlled him, he seemingly misspoke. The word he used inadvertently might reflect how the whole situation might have felt for him. "Throughout this whole process, I myself wanted a fair trial," he said, "and I wanted it to play itself out, and I thought for myself and made decisions for myself." He meant to say "negotiation" rather than "trial." Either way, it's over, and now Alvarez moves ahead; he will head to Bradenton, Fla., for instructional ball, and with a resolve to put this behind him. "I will work my hardest to be a leader on and off the field," he said. Pittsburgh "is a hard-nosed, blue-collar community just like where I grew up … and I will work my hardest." Nobody won in this. Everybody involved lost something, for certain, and the negotiated settlement was really all sides working out the best of a bad situation. The union might have won the arbitration case, if it had been decided that Alvarez's verbal agreement with the Pirates for $6 million was valid, but then there might have been major collateral damage; there was a chance that the contract of Eric Hosmer, the Royals' No. 1 pick, would have also been voided. Major League Baseball might have won the case, but it also might have lost; there was real risk. For these reasons, the union and Major League Baseball greatly preferred a settlement, and they made that known to the Pirates and to Boras. The Pirates conceded by giving Alvarez a major league deal, and Boras conceded by essentially agreeing to a restructuring that really doesn't guarantee any more money to the third baseman than he would've gotten if he had simply accepted the $6 million signing bonus agreed to in August. The Pirates say they were never concerned about the possibility that the arbitrator would strip them of their compensation draft pick for 2009. The most inherent pressure was their desire to get Alvarez, a player they want, on the field, and the concerns of the commissioner's office. Now the team and the player have the challenge of mending a working relationship that has been damaged by a situation that, in the end, led to the clarification of some signing deadline rules and created a bunch of unnecessary hurdles in front of Alvarez as he begins his development. Now he is destined to get booed by many Pirates fans in his first major league at-bat, and if he starts slowly, as Alex Gordon and many other young players have, the Pittsburgh fans may not be inclined to cut him some slack. He just wants to play baseball now (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08269/914880-63.stm), as Dejan Kovacevic writes.
• Sabathia's personal investment in the Brewers' effort to make the playoffs continues to be incredible, maybe one of the best stories of the year. He took the ball on three days' rest again and will do so on the last day of the season, if necessary. And he just keeps winning (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=799182); you could see it in his eyes that he was not going to lose, says his manager. Yovani Gallardo will get the ball today (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=799090) in a big spot. The Brewers have been playing small ball (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=799187).
• The Twins and the Metrodome might be gnawing on the White Sox (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-080924-chicago-white-sox-minnesota-twins,0,4447325.story), Mark Buehrle acknowledged, after the White Sox lost again. The White Sox need to get it together quickly (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-080924-chicago-white-sox-twins-morrissey,0,3787395.column), writes Rick Morrissey. Meanwhile, Orlando Cabrera has greased the skids for his way out of Chicago (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1184421,CST-SPT-ssep25.article), writes Joe Cowley.
• Joe Mauer thinks a win today will do something to the White Sox emotionally (http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/29715954.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:a ULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU). The pressure has shifted sides (http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/29727364.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqCP:iUiacyKUU), writes Joe Christensen.
• The Jays will make a competitive offer (http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080924.wspt_burnett24/GSStory/GlobeSportsBaseball) to A.J. Burnett, writes Jeff Blair. He got an ovation in what might be his last start for Toronto (http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=832410). The Jays might be better off without Burnett (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Baseball/article/505682), writes Richard Griffin. The Yankees players want Burnett so much, writes George King, that when Burnett was dinged up in the midst of Wednesday's game, one of them told trainer Gene Monahan to go check on the right-hander (http://www.nypost.com/seven/09252008/sports/yankees/free_agent_pitchers_on_bombers_radar_130597.htm).
• The Dodgers can clinch the NL West tonight (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_10553018), writes Tony Jackson. Ned Colletti is hedging on the question of whether the Dodgers will retain Manny Ramirez (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_10552408). Just making it won't be enough (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke25-2008sep25,0,2132708.column) for the Dodgers, writes Bill Plaschke.
• The Mets fell into a wild-card tie while missing an incredible chance to win (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/baseball/25mets.html?ref=sports), writes Ben Shpigel. The vibe was all 2007 (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/09/24/2008-09-24_mets_tied_with_brewers_in_wild_card_afte.html), writes Anthony McCarron. The Mets have four games left in the next four days and are facing an ominous weather forecast (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/baseball/25shea.html?ref=baseball). Ryan Church just hasn't had that much to offer this year (http://www.nypost.com/seven/09252008/sports/mets/church_coffers_empty_130621.htm), writes Mark Hale. The Shea boobirds should give the Mets a break (http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spjim0925,0,5866171.column), writes Jim Baumbach.
• I'd bet that some of the D-backs will sit at home this winter and think: How the heck did we lose this thing? They're on the verge of elimination (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/09/24/20080924spt-dbacks.html).
• Brett Myers and the Phillies got pounded again; their lead over the Mets is at 1½ games (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080925_Spoiler_Braves_batter_Phils.html), as Todd Zolecki writes. The odds are stacked in favor of the Phillies, but not as much as they were (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080925_Bob_Ford__Odds_stacked_in_Phillies__favor _-_but_less_so.html), writes Bob Ford. The Phillies are going to hold a meeting Friday (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080925_Phillies_stuck_on_89_wins_after_loss_to_B raves.html), writes David Murphy. After the Phillie Phanatic left a commercial shoot, the bomb squad was called (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080925_Phillies_Notes__Bomb_squad_blows_up_hot_d ogs.html).
• Carlos Zambrano did not look good in his last postseason audition (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080924-chicago-cubs-new-york-mets,0,7081555.story), writes Paul Sullivan. Lou Piniella expects to be around for a few more years (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080924-lou-piniella-manager-chicago-cubs,0,2188136.story).
• The Rays' magic number for clinching the AL East is down to one (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article826217.ece), writes Marc Topkin. The Rays have some tough decisions coming up (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article826214.ece), writes John Romano. Carl Crawford is afraid he won't be activated (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article826214.ece).
• Garret Anderson likes hitting second in the Angels' lineup (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/09/24/a1c_marlins_0925.html), as Bill Plunkett writes.
• J.T. Snow is going to resume his career, very briefly, and then retire as a Giant (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/25/SP21134AE5.DTL). Cool story.
• Daric Barton may play in the Mexican League (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/25/SP21134AE4.DTL).
• Paul Byrd's last audition for the Division Series was not a good one (http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_red_sox_25_09-25-08_VQBN8LU_v13.197cebd.html), writes Kevin McNamara. Health and pitching are Boston's top concerns (http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_red_sox_season_25_09-25-08_VQBN8LG_v11.197a525.html), writes Sean McAdam. The playoffs turn Jonathan Papelbon into a party animal (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/2008_09_25_Jonathan_Papelbon_has_a_finishing_kick: _Playoffs_turn_him_into_a_real_%28party%29_animal/srvc=sports&position=0), writes Steve Buckley.
• Jeremy Guthrie rehabbed and lobbied, and he will be rewarded for that (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403886.html), as Marc Carig writes. The Orioles blew a six-run lead, and now have 26 losses in their last 31 games (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles25sep25,0,7021826.story), as Don Markus writes.
• The Astros are still alive (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6021113.html), writes Jesus Ortiz.
• Dan O'Dowd wants changes from his manager (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10551191), writes Troy Renck. Clint Hurdle is in a rocky situation (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10551192), writes Mark Kiszla. Todd Helton opted for back surgery (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/24/seat-bench-back-pain-frustrates-rockies-helton/).
• Nolan Ryan all but said his GM and manager will come back (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/092508dnsporangerslede.aae7a202.html). He has signed on for more of the same (http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/932394.html), writes Randy Galloway.
• Chipper Jones nailed a huge pinch-hit homer (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/09/24/braves_phillies.html).
• The Nationals drew better as they moved into their new ballpark, but it wasn't a good attendance year for them, relatively speaking (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403341.html). The Nationals have moved to the precipice of 100 losses (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403902.html).
• If Andy Pettitte's time with the Yankees is over, then there's something apropos about the fact that his last pitch was thrown in old Yankee Stadium (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/09/24/2008-09-24_andy_pettitte_done_for_year_may_have_thr.html). I'd guess that the Yankees will offer him something in the range of $8 million to $10 million for one year, but it may be that Pettitte just wants to call it a career.
• The Marlins clinched a winning record (http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/700438.html), writes Clark Spencer. Defense is the team's priority for 2009 (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/09/24/a1c_marlins_0925.html), writes Joe Capozzi.
• Chris Carpenter is seeing more doctors (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/A8DFD08D40E4E693862574CF0013576E?OpenDocument).
• The Pirates will not have any 10-game winners this season (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08269/914945-63.stm).
• Aaron Hill is still bewildered by his concussion (http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=832400), writes Jeremy Sandler.
• The Mariners racked up loss No. 100 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2008201531_mari25.html), as Larry Stone writes. Jim Riggleman and his staff are awaiting word about their fate (http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/491555.html). Whatever it took to lose this year, the Mariners have done it (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2008201564_brewer250.html), writes Jerry Brewer. A Seattle pitcher is on the rise (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/380493_mbok25.html), writes John Hickey.
• Todd Jones went out a winner (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/OPINION03/809250372/1004/SPORTS), writes Lynn Henning. Texted Jones and asked for the best and worst moments of his career, and his response came in about 23 seconds: The Magglio Ordonez walk-off homer to win the AL pennant in 2006 was the highlight, and the Aaron Boone homer in 2003 -- when Jones was with the Red Sox -- was the lowlight.
• Dusty Baker made a point of telling reporters that his daughter is not dating his center fielder (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/SPT04/809250404/1062/SPT&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL), writes John Fay. Edinson Volquez is being shut down (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/SPT04/809250405/1062/SPT).
• The Padres were hammered (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080925/news_7s25padres.html). San Diego's front office and the on-field staff will be unified going forward, says Kevin Towers, who again would not address the question of whether Bud Black will be retained as manager.
• The Royals are cementing their fourth-place standing by burying the Tigers (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/812542.html). Zack Greinke has been shut down (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/812565.html).
• Andy Marte's disappointing season is over (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/122233161875550.xml&coll=2). Cliff Lee takes a no-nonsense approach to life (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/122233157675550.xml&coll=2). • It is very sad to hear of the passing of Dick Lynch, the longtime New York Giants player and broadcaster (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/football/25lynch.html?ref=sports). I got a chance to cover the Giants for the 2002 season and spent many hours watching practices side-by-side with him, chatting and picking his brain, and what was striking about him, to me, was how much he liked people. He was a sincerely nice person. When he saw someone botch a play on the field, his reaction on the sidelines was always wistful and hopeful -- "Oh, Shockey, you're better than that," he'd say under his breath. And Dick had a resilient cheerfulness that usually broke through the incredible pain he obviously felt over the loss of his son, Richard, who was killed in the 9/11 attacks. He would be telling a story about a player or something that happened in his life, and invariably get choked up, in midsentence, when he thought of his lost son. And after a moment or two, after settling his quaking voice, he would continue and finish his story, punctuating it with a laugh, his chin still quivering a bit. In this way, he was a remarkable inspiration, for me. Neil Best has more on Dick here (http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/ny-spbest0925,0,7260949.column).

[Draven X 23]

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[bk3030]

Red Sox, Yankees expected to fight for Teixeira
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
(http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3681593&type=blogEntry)
The Red Sox and the Yankees stared each other down during the Johan Santana trade talks last winter, each team sort of interested in acquiring the pitcher for itself but mostly engaged to make sure that if the left-hander landed with their rival, the price tag would stay high. When the Yankees offered pitcher Phil Hughes as part of their package in the brief window at the outset of December's winter meetings, the Red Sox were resigned to the likelihood that the Twins would make that deal -- but were satisfied that they had at least forced the Yankees to part with one of their best pitching prospects.
In the end, both Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Yankees GM Brian Cashman probably got their first wish: Santana was traded out of the AL, rather than to their respective teams.
But this time around, the prominent player that the Yankees and Red Sox are expected to fight over -- first baseman Mark Teixeira -- will probably land with one team or the other.
The Yankees, who will shed about $75 million in expiring contracts this offseason, want Teixeira to bolster their offense and improve their defense, and they will bid heavily, to the point that they might offer the first baseman about the same deal they gave Jason Giambi -- $120 million, paid out over six years.

This will be part of Cashman's two-front battle to get the Yankees back into the playoffs, with one arm of work complementing the other: If he signs Teixeira and a couple of starting pitchers, like CC Sabathia and Derek Lowe, the signings would allow him to keep prospects, rather than trade them, and continue the reconstruction of the team's farm system.
There already is debate within the industry as to whether the Red Sox are really serious about Teixeira. One theory, popular among some agents, is the Red Sox will bid just enough to drive the price up for the Yankees and, after forcing Cashman to spend more than he wants, they'll back away from the table in the end.
The guess here, and among some executives, is that the Red Sox' interest is actually much more serious than that, that they want Teixeira and feel like they need him to fortify the middle of their lineup.
"Teixeira is their kind of player," said one talent evaluator. "High on-base percentage, great defense, power hitter, he's 28 years old and he plays a position that generally ages well."
The expectation of the Red Sox is that third baseman Mike Lowell will bounce back from hip surgery, and that David Ortiz -- with the benefit of a full offseason for his wrist to heal and for him to get into better shape -- will return to mashing AL pitching next year.
But they are the Red Sox, with all that that implies, and they cannot assume that Lowell will rebound; they cannot assume that Ortiz will come back. And for what Boston needs, there are really very few options for offensive upgrades in this market. The Red Sox could theoretically try to deal for Matt Holliday, but the cost would be enormous and he will be a free agent after next season. As Boston demonstrated in the Santana trade talks, it really isn't interested in trading young players for a guy who is going to walk away in a year.
Adam Dunn is an imperfect fit for Boston's needs, and so are many others in the current class of free agents. If the Red Sox were to sign Teixeira, they would have a glut of slugger/corner guys, with Kevin Youkilis, Lowell, Ortiz and Teixeira; if the Red Sox were to sign Teixeira, Boston might move Youkilis to left field, Jason Bay to right and J.D. Drew to center, with Jacoby Ellsbury working into the rotation in the way that Coco Crisp did in 2008, through injury and planned rest.
Remember this, too: Epstein really covets guys with high on-base percentages, even if it means working in the face of conventional wisdom. The baseball industry was very down on Drew, but Epstein valued him for his ability as a professional hitter and signed him to a five-year deal. Twenty months ago, he went to the verge of completing a trade for Todd Helton -- a player who, in his prime, was very much like Teixeira.
We'll have to wait to see where Teixeira lands, but this might be the most aggressive head-to-head bidding from the Red Sox and Yankees that we've seen since Jose Contreras left Cuba.
The Red Sox are the front-runner to sign pitcher Junichi Tazawa (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1129898&srvc=sports&position=2), writes Sean McAdam.
Theo Epstein will meet with Scott Boras over the next couple of days to discuss Jason Varitek (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/11/04/epstein_going_to_work/), writes Nick Cafardo.