MVN: Most Valuable Network

Wake earns league leading 11th win

By bottomlinesox | July 9, 2009 | The Bottom Line

Told ya. Okay... I'll be honest, my predictions don't often come true and I usually ending up swearing at the myself for jinxing the game. But yesterday I told you all that Tim Wakefield would have a solid game and earn his 11th victory of the season... and he did. Wake only made it through six innings of work due to 10 scattered hits by the A's, but he held them to three runs (one earned) and fannned eight thanks to a overly jumpy knuckleball. NESN caught former Red Sox short stop Orlando Cabrera mimicking the crazy movement of the knuckleball in the dugout and he later offered this nugget during a post game interview: "I was telling George (Red Sox catcher Kottaras) behind the plate, 'How do you even catch that ball?"' Cabrera said. "He was like, `I just close my eyes.' "And I said, 'OK, I'm going to try that one, I'm...

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BOS 5, OAK 4: Drew, Papi blasts lead Sox

By Shawn Medeiros | July 9, 2009 | Fire Brand of the American League

During the game yesterday, Oakland Athletics shortstop Orlanda Cabrera was shown on camera asking a teammate "how can you hit that." Carbera was referencing Tim Wakefield's knuckleball that was dancing all around the plate last night.

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Tim Wakefield: The AL's first 11-game winner

By bottomlinesox | July 8, 2009 | The Bottom Line

That's right! I said it! Place your bets folks... I'm predicting a soild seven innings from Wake and a W for the Sox tonight. Wake is 10-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 27 starts against Oakland... but more importantly - he's 6-0 at Fenway this season. If the rain holds off, you can make it 7-0... trust me... does this guy look like a loser?? Go Sox!...

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7/8: Prelude to an All-Star

By Tim Daloisio | July 8, 2009 | Fire Brand of the American League

Considering the ovation Nomar got, why wouldn't we honor Wake and his first All-Star appearance even more of an ovation when he takes the mound tonight?

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This just in... Josh Beckett is awesome.

By bottomlinesox | July 8, 2009 | The Bottom Line

The Red Sox appeared to be limping into the All Star break after losing three of thier last four games to Sweattle and Oakland, but Josh Beckett doesn't believe in losing. In fact, he's only done it once in his last 12 starts. Instead, he's posted eight wins and three no decisions over that span while dropping his ERA from 7.22 on April 30th to 3.62 after last night's 5-2 win. Beckett is now a 10-game winner. He and Tim Wakefield make the Sox the only team with two 10-game winners and they are two of seven in the entire league... justifying their spots on the 2009 All Star roster. Zack Grienke has come back to earth over the past few weeks and Roy Halladay did not pitch well in his return from the DL, giving Beckett a chance to earn the starting role in the All Star game. They'll...

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BOS 5, OAK 2: Stopper

By Shawn Medeiros | July 8, 2009 | Fire Brand of the American League

Losing streaks don't happen with Josh Beckett on the mound.

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Wednesday's Games of the Day

By Jonathan Etkowicz | July 8, 2009 | MLB Notebook

Six of Wednesday's fifteen games are day games, making Wednesday a getaway day for those twelve teams. Wednesday doesn't feature the best pitching matchups, but does have some good games worth watching. Two All-Star Game bound ten-game winners are pitching on Wednesday. Ryan Sadowski looks to go 3-for-3 in his first three career starts. The Reds and Phillies continue an entertaining series. Oliver Perez returns to the Mets rotation and the NL Central and AL West showdowns continue. Pittsburgh at Houston: The Pirates-Astros series finishes with Charlie Morton and Wandy Rodriguez facing off. If Pittsburgh wins, they'll be only 2...

Read more  |  Discuss  |  Tags: Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brian Tallet, Chad Guadin, Charlie Morton, Chicago White Sox, Chris Young, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Curtis Granderson, David Hernandez, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Freddy Sanchez, Games of the Day, Hank Blalock, Homer Bailey, Houston Astros, Jeff Suppan, Jose Contreras, Jose Lopez, Kansas City Royals, Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Magglio Ordonez, Max Scherzer, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Oliver Perez, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Rodrigo Lopez, Ryan Sadowski, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Scott Kazmir, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Drew, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Tim Wakefield, Todd Wellemeyer, Toronto Blue Jays, Vernon Wells, Vicente Padilla, Vladimir Guerrero, Wandy Rodriguez, Zack Greinke

7/7: Stop the slide

By Tim Daloisio | July 7, 2009 | Fire Brand of the American League

Is it me or is there the feeling of an "into the break" malaise overtaking this team? With six games between here and the All-Star Break, its time to snap out of it and hit the break hard.

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Fantasy Baseball: Oakland A's Middle Infielders

By Brad Berreman | July 7, 2009 | MVN Outsider

If you're like me (and many other fantasy owners?), you've had trouble finding good, consistent options for your middle infield spots this season if you did not draft one of the top options at those spots.  The Oakland A's may not seem to be a fantasy goldmine, but they have a couple of players that may be able to help you fill the middle infield spots that can be tough to find production from.  Here are three players that call the east side of San Francisco Bay home and may be able to help you depending on your league format. 2B Mark EllisEllis recently returned from the 60-day DL due to a strained calf, and is hitting .225 with two home runs and seven RBI along with three stolen bases in 89 at-bats this season.  Not outstanding numbers, but he has proven to be a decent power-speed combination when healthy.  Ellis suffered a...Read more

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MLB Great Debates: Which Playoff Contender Needs a Trade to Stay in the Race?

By Staff Report | June 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MLB Outsider's Jaymes Langrehr and Kurt Evans debate the issue: Which contending team most needs to make a deal before the July 31 trade deadline in order to stay in the race? Jaymes Langrehr argues that the Brewers desperately need starting pitching:As we get closer to the trade deadline, a good number of teams are developing clear needs that need to be addressed if they're going to stay in playoff contention. Some teams will be able to cope with their weaknesses and still make the playoffs due to their other strengths. Other clubs will need to make a move if they have any chance at contending in the second half.The Milwaukee Brewers are a prime example. Heading into this season, they knew that their pitching wouldn't be as good as it was down the stretch last season. Given the strength of their offense, however, they figured to be in okay...Read more

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MLB Stock Market - Meeting our Expectations Edition

By Kurt Evans | June 8, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Things are starting to play out as we thought they would.  Not that anybody can ever be completely right -- even the experts rock a far-less-than 100% accuracy rating -- but there are fewer and fewer surprises as the season wears on.  Take the AL East for example.  As expected, the Yankees and Red Sox are battling it out for first place.  The Jays have descended to third in the division while Tampa is struggling to get over .500.  And the Orioles?  Let's just say "not so good," because we don't want to hurt peoples' feelings.But that doesn't mean we can roll over and go back to sleep until September.  Some pretty impressive things are happening right now -- not necessarily record-breaking things, but good baseball is happening none the less.  And even if things are starting to play out like we would have assumed they would, there is plenty of time...Read more

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MLB Great Debates: The Ballpark Experience

By Staff Report | May 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MLB Outsider's Jaymes Langrehr and Kurt Evans debate the issue: Which experience is better, going to a Major League Baseball game or going to a minor-league one?Jaymes Langrehr says MLB's quality is top-notch:Where I grew up, I was about a three-hour drive east away from Milwaukee County Stadium, and a three-hour drive west away from the Metrodome. I was literally stuck in the middle of nowhere when it came to the MLB map, and looking back, I was definitely jealous of the kids who were able to spend their summers buying cheap Brewers tickets and move their way up to field level (because it's not like anyone was sitting in those seats, anyway). Still, the few major-league games that I was able to attend were incredible -- even though the home team almost always got crushed. Even when your team stinks, there's something special about a Major League game that...Read more

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MLB Outsider Mock Draft: Oakland Athletics Select Grant Green

By Staff Report | May 18, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MLB Outsider is hosting a 2009 MLB mock draft, where bloggers from all over come together in an attempt to project the draft results that will take place June 9. Athletics Examiner's Scott Sabatini picks for the Oakland Athletics at No. 13. SS Grant Green is only the third position player taken so far. Follow the mock draft here. USC shortstop Grant Green is the most talented player left on the board as the Oakland A' select with the 13th overall pick, despite the cold shoulder from analysts for the one white hot prospect. Green all-around baseball skills once had him projected as a potential top-three pick. But as this mock draft has shown, Green's lackluster junior season caused him to drop. Baseball Prospectus summed it up succinctly: "Hasn't progressed from last year." If this happens in the real draft, the A's should catch him. Green was originally drafted in...Read more

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MLB Great Debates: Steroids and the Hall of Fame

By Staff Report | May 13, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MLB Outsider's Jaymes Langrehr and Kurt Evans debate the issue: Should the BBWAA look past the use of performance-enhancing drugs and vote known "steroids guys" into the National Baseball Hall of Fame?Jaymes Langrehr says the writers will eventually have no choice but to vote in tainted players:Once again, the game of baseball has been rocked by a star testing positive for a banned substance. Every time this happens, everyone ends up trying to decide if that player is going to be allowed to enter the Hall of Fame. And every time this happens, all the old time-tested baseball writers voting for the Hall say that the player will get in over their dead bodies.It's getting to the point now, though, that eventually they're going to have to lighten up, or risk enshrining some undeserving players. If they stick to their word, we won't be getting Alex Rodriguez and Manny...Read more

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MLB Great Debates: Which Unlikely Leader Can Keep Pace All Season Long?

By Staff Report | May 8, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MLB Outsider's Jaymes Langrehr and Kurt Evans debate the issue: Of the teams who raced out to hot starts in 2009, which is most likely to stay relevant and maintain a lead in the division deep into the season? Jaymes Langrehr picks the Florida Marlins:Sure, the St. Louis Carinals may be the easy choice. They've jumped out to a lead in a division that seems to be filled with fairly average teams. They have the best player in the game. They've got one of the better managers in the game. They seem like the best bet, right?I'm not taking the Cards -- put me down for the Marlins being the best bet to keep up with their hot start.Like the Cards, the Marlins are playing in a division that's pretty wide open. Like the Cards, they were able to jump out to a huge lead early in the season.They've been...Read more

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Fantasy Baseball: The Week Ahead

By Jeff Freels | May 3, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Sixty pitchers are scheduled to make two starts in week five of the 2009 season. As usual, most of them are useless except for in the deepest of AL or NL-only leagues. If I do not list them here, then consider them too risky to start unless you are utterly desperate. MUST START PITCHERS should be in your lineup no matter what: Tim Lincecum at Chicago Cubs, at Los Angeles Dodgers - Tiny Tim is back in the saddle and he has been awesome in his last couple of starts. Zack Greinke vs. Chicago White Sox, at Los Angeles Angels - I loved him this preseason and he is paying off big. The kid has Cy Young stuff. Felix Hernandez vs. Texas, at Minnesota - King Felix always seems to start the season strong before something goes wrong. Here's to hoping he keeps it together. Yovani Gallardo at Pittsburgh, vs....Read more

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