New York Yankees http://mvn.com/mlb/yankees/ New York Yankees community of blogs, video and audio en Copyright 2009 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Trade Debate: A day of wheeling and dealing I've made a few trades here and there throughout the season dispersed amongst my different leagues.  But then came yesterday.  I had been getting a rush of offers from a couple different teams in my ESPN 10 team auction league.  After a little back and forth two deals went down involving trading away 4 and receiving 4 players.  Here are the deals.

Received Chipper Jones for Jorge Cantu.  My offense if fine, but could use help mostly in AVG and despite his current slump Chipper should help in that area.  Even if he misses a few games here and there (more like when) I still would rather have Chipper over Cantu.  I also have Aramis Ramirez on my DL, so I'll be able to put one of the two at CI or UTIL when he comes back.

I was getting some serious interest in Zack Greinke. Aside from Greinke my starting pitchers consists of Jon Lester, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Cain, Edwin Jackson, John Danks and Max Scherzer.  As you can see, pitching is pretty solid.  Since the offers were coming back fairly aggressive, I decided to see how high I could sell on Greinke as I have already had a half seasons worth of great production.  The deal ended up like this...

My team traded: Zack Greinke, Shane Victorino and Frank Francisco

My team received: Alex Rodriguez, Matt Kemp and Chad Qualls

The way I see it: A-Rod has started to find a little groove.  While I don't think he'll be the A-Rod of old for the rest of the season, he should be a great addition to Chipper/Aramis at 3B/MI/UTIL and makes one of them expendable should I want to try and deal for another position.  To me Matt Kemp>Shane Victorino.  They are the same type of player, but Kemp has more power and more speed.  Frank Francisco for Qualls is basically a wash at this point.  Francisco has not looked sharp since returning from the DL and Qualls is a low end closer.  My other closers include Jose Valverde, Kevin Gregg and Kerry Wood.  Not the best closer group in the world, but it's holding me above water. 

All in all these are the players I gave up and received:

I got:

Chipper Jones

Alex Rodriguez

Matt Kemp

Chad Qualls

I gave up:

Jorge Cantu

Zack Greinke

Shane Victorino

Frank Francisco

How do you think I did in my day of wheeling and dealing?

P.S. have a great 4th of July weekend!!!!

]]> http://fantasybaseball365.com/2009/07/trade-debate-a-day-of-wheeling-and-dealing.html http://fantasybaseball365.com/2009/07/trade-debate-a-day-of-wheeling-and-dealing.html Trade Debate Alex Rodriguez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Chad Qualls Chipper Jones Fantasy Fantasy Baseball Florida Marlins Frank Francisco Jorge Cantu Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Matt Kemp MLB New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies Shane Victorino Texas Rangers Zack Greinke Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:49:40 +0000 A tribute to Lou "The Iron Horse" Gehrig

" I might've been given a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for. Thank you."

Those were the final words Lou Gehrig ever spoke to the hearts of America. His succinct and supple speech on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 remains one of the most beautiful bits of poetry our ears have ever heard.

Saturday, July 4, 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of Gehrig's farewell speech, and it will be celebrated around Major League Baseball. MLB is launching the "4ALS Awareness" campaign to raise money for ALS research in an attempt to help fight the illness that has become commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Throughout MLB, players will wear "4ALS" patches, first bases will be auctioned in memory of Gehrig (he played 1B), and every major league ballpark will read Gehrig's speech during the seventh inning stretch.

Gehrig stepped up to the microphone in front of more than 60,000 people, baggy uniform cascading down a feeble and slumping body, and barely spoke for 30 seconds. Politicians need hours, weeks, and months to get a message across to a nation. Gehrig needed 30 seconds.

In a time of economic recession, heartache, worry, and bleakness, the world could use a little bit of Lou Gehrig. The world could use a little reminder that we still have an awful lot to live for. Gehrig's life was blessed with the underlying power that it also represents a message that can resonate with any family in any suburb.

One day not too long ago, I stood just outside the third base dugout on the diamond of a neighborhood park. The dugout sat adjacent to a McDonald's that was perfect for an after practice cheeseburger.

The all-dirt diamond kicked up some of the nastiest hops a nine-year-old boy would ever want to see. You better have had a good dentist if you were going to roam shortstop there.

It was the first practice of the summer, and my Pony League coach asked me what number I would like to wear for the upcoming All Star season.

"I would like No. 4, please," I told Coach.

"Okay, any specific reason?"

"Yeah, because that's the number Lou Gehrig wore for the Yankees," I told him, confidently.

My coach had this wry smile that he held for three long seconds, pondering how a nine-year-old boy could idolize a baseball legend that played some 60 years prior. "Okay, well No. 4 is yours then."

And that was where it all began for me, the moment Gehrig's life and legacy seeped into my soul. All the way up through high school ball I proudly donned '4' on my back.

It wasn't until my freshman season in college that I had to change. Number 4 went to a 5'9" middle infielder. So naturally, I have worn '44' for the last two seasons. If you can't have one Gehrig, you might as well have two then, right?

Gehrig was a great, great baseball player, but he wasn't the best to ever live. That could easily be said about his teammate, Babe Ruth.

What makes Gehrig truly spectacular is that he accomplished some astonishing things in his career, and yet he is still remembered for how he played the game and the way he carried himself as a man.

Gehrig was born in New York City to German immigrants, and was the only child of four to survive. He grew up like most people with immigrant parents; both parents worked long, hard hours and he was raised on the principles of hard work and perseverance.

His road to becoming a legendary icon began at Columbia University in 1921 at the request of his mother, Christina. She was adamant that Lou received an education. After all, she and her husband didn't struggle to get to the United States for nothing.

But after two seasons at Columbia, Gehrig decided to sign a professional contract with the New York Yankees when scout Paul Krichell approached him and offered a $1,500 signing bonus. Christina wasn't happy, but she supported her son's decision to chase his childhood dream.

It wasn't long before Mrs. Gehrig could watch her baby boy play in The Bronx. Gehrig was called up to the big leagues that September, and hit so well that Yankees manager Miller Huggins petitioned for Gehrig to be added to the World Series roster in place of injured Wally Pipp.

But New York Giants manager John McGraw exercised his right to refuse Huggins' petition, and therefore Gehrig was left off the roster. The Yankees won the World Series, anyway.

Gehrig spent 1924 playing in the minor leagues at Hartford, and then joined the Yankees for good in the spring of '25. When Gehrig took over for Pipp at first base, he would never leave. Fourteen seasons later, and a legend had been cemented.

If you want history, Gehrig made it. If you want stats, Gehrig has it. With a .340 career batting average, 2,721 hits, 493 home runs, and 1,995 RBI, Gehrig was one of the most pure hitters of his time.

Over a modern 162 game season, Gehrig's career numbers would project out to .340, .447 OBP, 37 homers, 149 RBI, 141 runs, and almost twice as many walks as strikeouts.

Among Gehrig's many accomplishments, he holds the career record for grand slams with 23; he won the Triple Crown in 1934; his 184 RBIs in '31 are the most ever in a single season in the American League, and are second most in baseball history behind Hack Wilson's 191 RBIs in 1930 with the Chicago Cubs; he is the only player ever to drive in 500 or more runs over a three year span (1930-'32).

And remember, Gehrig spent those years hitting behind Babe Ruth, arguably the most prolific power hitter in baseball history.

Of course, the Iron Horse is most known for his 2,130 consecutive games played streak, which was a record until Cal Ripken Jr. eclipsed the mark in 1995. During the streak, Gehrig played through broken toes, fingers, and back spasms.

Once late in his career, Gehrig's hands were X-rayed and doctors were able to spot 17 different fractures that had fused back together during his streak.

But the end came abruptly in the summer of '39, with Gehrig retiring at 36 years old after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The disease destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles and causes complete paralysis. Most patients die within 3-5 years of being diagnosed.

The Hall Of Fame waived its customary two-year waiting period and opened up its doors to Gehrig in 1939, the same year as his retirement. They wanted Gehrig to be able to accept the honor before his illness captured him.

Gehrig passed away on June 2, 1941, 17 days shy of his 38th birthday, but the sadness placidly surrendered to the joy and grace of his name.

Gehrig was ahead of his time in social activism, saying, "There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all." Jackie Robinson wouldn't come along to officially break the color barrier in baseball until 1947.

Mostly, though, Gehrig is remembered for his humility and honesty while living in a city that craves showmanship, and working for a franchise that defined the American sports celebrity.

Gehrig spent most of his years living in the shadow of Ruth, an iconic figure equally know for his womanizing and party habits in addition to his tantalizing baseball talent.

And Gehrig spent his last years playing in the shadow of Joe DiMaggio, The Yankee Clipper who, when not on the field, stayed in the public spotlight by marrying Marilyn Monroe and later becoming a famous line of Simon & Garfunkel's 1968 number one single, "Mrs. Robinson."

But all the while, Gehrig remained a symbol for the working class of New York, and the middle class of America. He was a loving family man, and that image waltzes with everyday reality.

You don't need to be Ruth to have it made. You don't need the glamour of DiMaggio to have happiness. Even in the face of struggle, you don't need to be rich or famous to make it through. You simply need to stay true to your core, and follow Gehrig's path of dignity.

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."

That Gehrig line will forever rest in baseball lore.

But it's kind of funny, because that's how I feel when I get to dive into and celebrate the illustrious life and legacy of Lou "The Iron Horse" Gehrig.

Teddy Mitrosilis is the author of Ballpark Banter. He also writes for Bleacher Report. You can reach him at tm4000@yahoo.com.

]]> http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/a-tribute-to-lou-the-iron-horse-gehrig.html http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/a-tribute-to-lou-the-iron-horse-gehrig.html Babe Ruth Boston Red Sox Joe DiMaggio Lou Gehrig MLB New York Yankees Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:25:00 -0500 Branyan And Gutierrez Continue To Produce

Russell Branyan and Franklin Gutierrez each played a key part in the Seattle Mariners' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday night.

Branyan continued his impressive breakout, going 2-for-4 with his 20th home run (a moon shot that hit the restaurant in center field at Yankee Stadium). Gutierrez also went deep to cap off a three-hit performance as the Mariners roughed up Yankees starter CC Sabathia for six earned runs. Ichiro Suzuki, as usual, also got in on the action, but it was fitting that Branyan and Gutierrez each played such an instrumental role in the high-profile win, which ended Seattle's 10-game losing streak against New York.

Each offseason acquisition has been tremendously valuable to the Mariners, 40-38 and a realistic contender in the weak American League West, in their own way. Jack Zduriencik made several shrew roster moves in his first offseason as general manager, attempting to upgrade his defense and spend money efficiently on the open market. In most instances, Zduriencik has succeeded on both counts and appears to have struck gold in some of those moves, none more notable than the additions of the aforementioned duo.

Rather than splurge on any high-profile free-agent bat, with a surplus of them available, Zduriencik took a flier on Branyan, who was offered (and agreed to) a one-year, $1.4-M contract. The former Milwaukee Brewers scouting director and one-time Baseball America executive of the Year then made it clear from the get-go that the 33-year-old slugger would get every opportunity to hold down first base. It was his job to lose, the rookie GM said.

Zduriencik, after seeing what Branyan could do first hand during his final season with the Brewers, was confident in the decision. The first baseman made a good impression by hitting .250/.342/.583 with 12 homers in 152 plate appearances in Milwaukee in 2008, producing a .383 Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA). Although he struck out in 31.8 percent of his plate appearances, the Three True Outcome hitter did what he does best, going on a home run barrage while walking in 12.8 percent of his plate trips upon a mid-summer promotion from Triple-A Nashville. When accounting for batting, fielding, positional and replacement factors, he was worth 1.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in only 50 games; that production translates to $5.2-M. After getting a front row seat and witnessing the benefits of that cheap production in a limited sample, Zduriencik acted quickly to get the veteran into a Seattle uniform, anxious to see what he could do in a full-time role.

So far, the decision appears to be one of the wisest investments in baseball. Once a top prospect, his prodigious power has garnered a lot of attention throughout his professional tenure; not too many journeyman boast a .259 career Isolated Power (IsoP) and can put on a batting practice display like he can. High strikeout totals (39% career K rate), a lack of opportunities and plethora of injuries, though, have held him back from becoming the performer that scouts originally envisioned.

Finally healthy and given the opportunity to play every night, Branyan is flourishing in his new surroundings. Despite having to play his home games in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, he has been on fire for the first three months. He has raked to the tune of a .298/.394/.596 line with a .417 wOBA, hitting some absolute bomb home runs. According to HitTrackerOnline.com, in fact, he ranks fifth in the league with five "No Doubt" home runs. While much of the Mariners' success is a result of the improvements made at preventing runs, he obviously gets put in the lineup for his bat, not his glove; after the Richie Sexson nightmare, though, first base is a position that the club needed pop from. Although he has, as expected, graded out below average with the glove--he has registered a -0.2 UZR and -0.8 UZR/150 in 604.0 innings at first base--it's a trade-off the M's are happy to make. Overall, when accounting for the factors mentioned earlier, he has already produced 2.7 WAR.

Branyan, whose .367 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is 54 points higher than his career clip, will regress some. He certainly won't be this good all year, but ziPS still forecasts a .376 wOBA the rest of the way; that kind of offensive output is quite valuable, of course, especially considering his price tag.

On FanGraphs' Dollars scale, Branyan's production, even with the poor defense and positional hit, is already valued at $12.1-M. For those scoring at home, that total is nearly nine times greater than his guaranteed contract. Clearly, he has been one of the biggest free-agent bargains around, and, even with a BABIP-related drop off, he'll remain near the top of the list throughout the summer.

Gutierrez, on the other hand, wasn't brought in for his bat but rather his excellent defensive ability in the outfield. Acquired from the Cleveland Indians in the three-team deal that sent J.J Putz to the New York Mets, he was the most noteworthy pick-up acquired mainly for his stellar defense. Having inherited a fly ball pitching staff and spacious home environment, Zduriencik made it a priority to upgrade his outfield defense, grabbing the Fielding Bible Award winner in right field as the key return; defensive whiz Endy Chavez was also included in the deal, coming over from New York. Like Coco Crisp before him, Gutierrez was blocked by Grady Sizemore in center while with the Indians. The Mariners were confident that his defense (20.9 UZR, 26.9 UZR/150) would translate in center field, though, as it has with Crisp during his time with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals.

While the sample size is still small, the early returns have been excellent in this regard. Gutierrez has been a fine anchor in the Seattle outfield, ranking third in the majors with an 11.1 UZR (second, behind only Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, at his position) and fourth with a 20.7 UZR/150. With the fine play of Chavez before he went down with a season-ending injury last week and Suzuki, Seattle has given the Tampa Bay Rays (with Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton and the all-Gabe platoon) a run for their money in the competition for best outfield defense in baseball. Not coincidentally, the M's have converted 70.3 percent of batted balls hit into play into outs, a stark improvement from '08. As a result, the team pitching staff has appeared to be much better--Carlos Silva looks respectable and Jarrod Washburn, whose also pitching as well as at point during his career, has been surprisingly effective. The defensive transformation, though, starts in center.

Gutierrez certainly isn't an elite performer with a bat in his hands, having produced a career major league line of .262/.317/.409 and 89 OPS+ to along with middling rates of 6.8 BB%, 23.4 K% and a .149 IsoP. Seattle understood the importance of the whole package, though, and was intrigued by his offensive upside. He hasn't set the world on fire (.278/.346/.409), by any stretch, but his better-than-league-average 102 OPS+ and .339 wOBA have exceeded expectations. The 26-year-old has hit eight home runs and is drawing walks at the best rate of his career (9.0%). He capped off a productive June with one of his finest weeks, finishing the month batting .304/.360/.519 with an .879 OPS. His .337 BABIP will regress a bit, but ziPS sees him producing at a rate of .266/.331/.411 going forward; with his defense at a premium position, that production makes him a tremendous asset.

Indeed, according to FanGraphs, Gutierrez has already produced 2.5 WAR (valued at $11.3-M) while making the near minimum. He'll become eligible for free agency for the first time in 2010, so expect him to get a healthy raise. If he continues to improve his skills as a hitter and strike zone awareness, though, he'll easily outearn his salary even as he gets expensive throughout the arbitration process before becoming a free agent in 2013.

The Branyan and Gutierrez transactions didn't grab headlines on a national level. Not too many offseason acquisition duos have been more valuable to their respective teams, though, as they have combined for 5.2 WAR.

It was a treat to see them get their due on the YES! Network last night.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com. ]]> http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/branyan-and-gutierrez-continue-to-produce.html http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/branyan-and-gutierrez-continue-to-produce.html CC Sabathia Franklin Gutierrez MLB New York Yankees Russell Branyan Seattle Mariners Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:10:22 -0500 Friday's Games of the Day
Toronto at New York Yankees: The Mariners broke the Yankees seven-game winning streak but are 7-3 in their last 10 games. They look to have A.J. Burnett and company start a new win streak against the Jays and Brian Tallet. Four of Hideki Matsui's 6 hits off Tallet have gone for extra bases, with one being a long ball.

Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs: The Cubs took the first game of this series on Thursday. The Brewers and Jeff Suppan look to even the season series back up at 4-4 against Carlos Zambrano. Derek Lee has 21 hits off Suppan with 11 extra base hits (4 home runs). J.J. Hardy is only 2-for-19 against Zambrano. Mike Cameron is worse, 1-for-13 against Zambrano.

New York Mets at Philadelphia: The Phillies have lost 3 straight and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They're now tied with the Marlins for first place in the NL East. The Mets find themselves only 1 game behind. This series will determine who's in first place in the division come Monday. The Phillies are relying on Rodrigo Lopez to get the win. Wonderful.
]]> http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/fridays-games-of-the-day-3.html http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/fridays-games-of-the-day-3.html AJ Burnett Boston Red Sox Brian Tallet Carlos Zambrano Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Curtis Granderson Derek Lee Detroit Tigers Felix Hernandez Franklin Gutierrez Games of the Day Gordon Beckham Hideki Matsui Homer Bailey Houston Astros J.J. Hardy Jeff Suppan Joel Pineiro Jose Lopez Kansas City Royals Kevin Slowey Luke French Mike Cameron Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins MLB New York Mets New York Yankees Paul Konerko Philadelphia Phillies Rodrigo Lopez Ryan Sadowski San Francisco Giants Scott Kazmir Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Tim Wakefield Toronto Blue Jays Zack Greinke Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:40:00 -0800 Jeter Twice As Good As JB? I Think Not...
I am one of many that realize that fan voting is destroying the All-Star Game. The main reason for me writing this article is because of what I mentioned above. Jason Bartlett, an All Star SS will not be the guy taking the field between 2nd and 3rd base. Who will? A guy named Derek Jeter. You may not have heard of him I know, so take a time out and do a quick google search...

To further my frustration, lets examine the manner in which Mr. Jeter has beaten JB out. JETER HAS TWICE AS MANY VOTES! TWICE! Feel free to read that as many times needed for it to sink in. In fact he has more than twice the votes.

Both guys have seen some time on the bench this year with injury and Jeter does have 78 more AB's on the year, but come on! Bartlett is having a career year and has only 2 fewer home runs than Jeter, and we don't play in the wind tunnel everyday. The AVG? 55 points in favor of JB. He also has the edge in doubles, triples and RBI's. Not too mention OBP, SLG and OPS.

Now, I hate the Yanks, thats in my blood. But I have a lot of respect for the Yankee Captain. He's a hard working player and can keep his hands inside the baseball better than anyone in the biz. But does his name make him twice as good as Jason this year? (And remember we're not picking the All-Century team here, its about this year only) The answer is no. Plainly and bluntly no. But this is the epitome of the All Star Game. In the infield, the Yanks and Bo Sox both have their players in the top 5 of every position. In fact they're all in the top 3 except for the injured Sox SS Lowrie! 

Red Sox Nation and the Yankee Universe dominate the voting but don't be stupid, they don't have the best players at every single position. Jason Bartlett is an All Star starter and does not deserve to be doubled up on. Being an All Star just doesn't mean what it used to...
]]> http://mvn.com/theraysparty/2009/07/jeter-twice-as-good-as-jb-i-think-not-1.html http://mvn.com/theraysparty/2009/07/jeter-twice-as-good-as-jb-i-think-not-1.html All-Star 2009 Boston Red Sox Derek Jeter Jason Bartlett MLB New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:26:09 -0500 Cuba's Aroldis Chapman Defects reported today left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman has defected from the Cuban national team.

According to the report, Chapman defected from the team while they were in the Netherlands competing in a tournament, walking right out of the front door of the team's hotel in Rotterdam.

"I walked out easily, right through the hotel door, and I hopped in a car and left," Chapman told cubaencuentro.com, a Spanish web site. "It was easy. Now the plan is to sign with a Major League team."

Chapman is scheduled to fly to Miami on Thursday, according to a source.

This is huge news on this winter's free agency front because, depending on who you ask, Chapman is the most-hyped player to defect from Cuba since Jose Contreras, but appears to have a ceiling far beyond that of the Chicago White Sox veteran right-hander.

Chapman, 21, is a menacing southpaw who brings a fastball that has been clocked as high as 102 mph to go along with a slider and a curveball. Arangure's report suggests that Chapman may need some development time in the minor leagues because his secondary pitches are "only average."

But Buster Olney, also a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, wrote in his blog Thursday morning that some scouts have labeled Chapman's slider and curveball as both "plus" pitches. Olney said that some talent evaluators even see Chapman as a "left-handed (Stephen) Strasburg." That's how insanely talented this kid is.

I saw some of Chapman in this year's World Baseball Classic, and he was nasty. His fastball explodes on the hitters -- I guess anything will explode at 100 mph -- and when he throws his secondary pitches for strikes, hitters have no chance. 

Chapman posted a 4.03 ERA in 118 1/3 innings last year as a 20-year-old pitching in the National Series in Cuba. Unlike other defectors, Chapman's baby face actually gives some sort of evidence that he is as young as he claims to be.

The one knock on Chapman is his maturity. He has been known to show too much emotion and frustration on the mound -- with the umpire's strike zone, for example -- and doesn't always give his manager, coaches, and teammates the respect they deserve. But at 21-years-old, that isn't all that surprising. But that alone would make it absolutely necessary he apply some polish in the minor leagues.

How does this effect the upcoming free agent class? Well, the two biggest fish in the market were supposed to be Oakland A's outfielder Matt Holliday and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher John Lackey.

But with only s mediocre season thus far in Oakland, a little hype has come off of Holliday and if free agency were to open today, he wouldn't be commanding the dollars that he and his agent Scott Boras were expecting.

Lackey, on the other hand, is set to cash in with a healthy season. But that's the hold up. Lackey has battled early season elbow issues for the last two seasons, and I'm not sure if anybody is completely confident in the health of his elbow. 

Nonetheless, with teams so starved for quality pitching, Lackey will get his money if he stays off of the DL for the remainder of the season.

But if Chapman is part of this winter's bidding, he will undoubtedly be the big fish in the pond. Estimates are already coming in between $30 million and $60 million for Chapman, but there is no real precedent for a pitcher this young and this talented who has already pitched on the national stage and has been relatively exposed. 

You can expect big market clubs such as the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Angels, and Cubs to be interested in Chapman. 

The Red Sox should be in the mix, too, but I wonder how eager they are to spend exorbitantly on another international product that comes this hyped, considering that they paid a total sum of $103 million to get Daisuke Matsuzaka to Boston and he hasn't met expectations.

The A's probably won't be players but the White Sox could be, as both clubs have been known to make dents in international signings (although signing Chapman would not be like signing a 17-year-old prospect).

One issue facing Chapman's stay in the United States is that all Cuban players are required to hand over their passports to Cuban officials when making an appearance outside of Cuba. Assuming Chapman followed regular procedures, he may have a difficult time establishing residency in the U.S.

Teddy Mitrosilis is the author of Ballpark Banter. He also writes for Bleacher Report. You can reach him at tm4000@yahoo.com.
]]> http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/cubas-aroldis-chapman-defects.html http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/cubas-aroldis-chapman-defects.html Aroldis Chapman Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Cuban National Team Daisuke Matsuzaka Matt Holliday MLB New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics World Baseball Classic Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:25:00 -0500 Sell Targets: tell Torii goodbye Back this week with Mark from Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove.  Last week we looked at some players to target in trades.  This week we look at some players worth selling high on.

Torii Hunter - A lot can come with a name brand.  Hunter's charisma and highlight reel catches make him a household name.  That makes no difference when it comes to fantasy baseball.  What it does do is help to boost his perceived value.  Hunter's .306, 17 HR, 12 SB line is very front-loaded.  8 of his homeruns came in April when his flyball rate was over 50%.  That rate has fallen back down to his career standards and so too has the AB/HR rate.  9 of his 12 steals came in May and his AVG has gone from .325 in April to .304 in May and .289 in June.  His strikeouts also continue to rise per month.  It's safe to say that the best part of Hunter's season is behind him.  In the second half we'll likely be seeing a good player, but one that will be less valuable for your fantasy team.  Recently traded for: David Wright, Alex Rodriguez, Dan Haren, Ichiro Suzuki, Evan Longoria.

Ben Zobrist - Yeah, he looked pretty legit coming out of the gates when he moved into a full time role, but let's face it, he's not Chase Utley good.  His almost 24% HR/FB rate is sure to regress a little and he strikes out over 22% of his at bats.  June was a significantly cooler month for Zobrist.   I do think he's capable of 10-12 homers in the second half, but the AVG may not get much over .280 or so.  The biggest reason to sell on Zobrist is the proven talent you can get in return.  Recently traded for: Lance Berkman, Josh Beckett, Zack Greinke, Jose Reyes, Bobby Abreu, Chad Billingsley.

CC Sabathia - The ERA and WHIP look good, but look deeper and you might not like what you see.  While everyone is worried about Johan Santana's recent issues, it's Sabathia's strikeouts that have been way down all season long.  His 6.44 K/9 is only a little above league average and he is seeing more fly balls off the bat of opposing hitters than he has in his career.  Think this will get better in the second half?  It could, but there is plenty of risk involved as well.  Sabathia is on course to approach 230 innings this season, which would actually be down from a consecutive three year rise in innings pitched.  Take into account the way (amount of innings) he pitched late last season and into October.  There would seem to be a chance he wears down in August and September of this season.  Even if he doesn't wear down, the fact is that we are looking at a pitcher who's value is still largely perceived off of last season's incredible performance.  Sabathia is the perfect guy to try and deal for a package of players.  In many cases Sabathia would be viewed as the best player in the deal, but he may not be all that different than a second tier starter right now.  Recently traded for:  Scott Kazmir + Ichiro, Manny Ramirez + Carlos Zambrano, Heath Bell + Carlos Lee, Matt Capps + Clayton Kershaw + Hunter Pence and 1 for 1 deals for Miguel Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez.

3 Sell Targets from Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove:

Jason Bartlett. His BABIP is .413. His K rate has increased slightly from last year. He only has 7 home runs. More than two-thirds of his plate appearances have come from the 7-9 spots in the batting order. Continue reading...

 



]]> http://fantasybaseball365.com/2009/07/sell-targets-tell-torii-goodbye.html http://fantasybaseball365.com/2009/07/sell-targets-tell-torii-goodbye.html Trade Targets Ben Zobrist CC Sabathia Fantasy Fantasy Baseball Los Angeles Angels MLB New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Torii Hunter Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 +0000 AAA All-Stars Announced have been announced. Some names of note:

  • Eric Young Jr. (Rockies)
  • Clay Bucholtz (Red Sox)
  • Andy Marte (Indians)
  • Shelly Duncan (Yankees)
  • Chris Shelton (Mariners)
  • Brandon Wood (Angels)
  • Matt Murton (Rockies)

]]> http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/aaa-all-stars-announced.html http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/aaa-all-stars-announced.html Boston Red Sox Cleveland Indians Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Angels MLB New York Yankees Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:40:00 -0800 International Free Agents Udate

The Yankees as expected signed Gary Sanchez today along with two other international free agents. Chris Cabrera a RHP from the Dominican Republic was obtained for 400K. Here was the bit we published about him earlier:

Chris Cabrera, RHP, Dominican Republic
6'1"/185
Cabrera has some more polished stuff (for a 16 year old) and has drawn plenty of interest around the league. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and has touched 94. He also offers a slider and change up that could potentially become plus pitches and throws with decent command. Cabrera is said to be demanding anywhere from 500k to 750k in bonus money.

The Yankees also went ahead and signed a short stop, Damian Arredondo for $850K. Apparently Arredondo is a speed guy with decent fielding tools at this point. We'll keep you updated as more reports trickle in.

]]> http://mvn.com/pendingpinstripes/2009/07/international-free-agents-udate.html http://mvn.com/pendingpinstripes/2009/07/international-free-agents-udate.html Latin American Players Chris Cabrera Damian Arredondo Gary Sanchez MLB New York Yankees Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:48:04 -0500 Thursday's Games of the Day
New York Mets at Pittsburgh: This game is a makeup of the June 3 game that was postponed. If Paul Maholm and the Pirates beat the Mets again, will Carlos Beltran comment again about how the Mets shouldn't lose to the Pirates? The Mets are depleted and throw Tim Redding out there. Adam LaRoche has four homers against the Mets since 2006, including one off Redding.

Houston at San Diego: Because a series between two teams in next to last place is better than a series between two teams in last place. The surprising Wandy Rodriguez takes the mound for Houston. Adrian Gonzalez's status for the game is in doubt, which obviously doesn't help the Padres.

Philadelphia at Atlanta: The Phillies need a win here to keep from falling behind the Marlins in the NL East. The Braves would extend their winning streak to four games if they win. Both JA Happ and Javier Vazquez go for their 6th win. Happ has a 9.00 ERA against the Braves. Chase Utley has a .333 average and 5 RBI against Vazquez.
]]> http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/thursdays-games-of-the-day-5.html http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/thursdays-games-of-the-day-5.html Adam LaRoche Adrian Gonzalez Albert Pujols Atlanta Braves Barry Zito Bruce Chen Carlos Beltran CC Sabathia Chase Utley Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Games of the Day Houston Astros Ichiro Suzuki J.J. Hardy JA Happ Jason Vargas Javier Vazquez Kansas City Royals Mark Buehrle Milwaukee Brewers MLB New York Mets New York Yankees Paul Maholm Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Ryan Dempster San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Tim Redding Wandy Rodriguez Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:45:00 -0800 Staten Island Players to Watch

The Gulf Coast League and Short Season A ball have recently started so I thought it best to take a look at some names to watch on both teams. As more 2009 signees make their way to Staten Island and Florida respectively, we'll keep you up to date on who to watch.Staten Island first.

Neil Medchill-OF-Bats-L Throws- R

Medchill was the first player to sign out of the 2009 draft. The 11th rounder has some serious left handed power and if he can cut down the strike outs he'll raise some eyebrows this year. He's off to a fast start in his first 34 ABs: .333/.343/.576.

Kyle Higashioka-C-Bats- R Throws-R

Higashioka was the 7th round selection out of California a year ago and he's another well rounded catching prospect. Defense may be his calling card but he can hit a bunch too- look for the 19 year old to make major improvements on his 2008 campaign.

Deangelo Mack-OF-Bats-L Throws-L

The 2009 13th round pick, Mack has average offensive abilities but plays solid defense. In college he displayed good opposite field power and an ability to work the count and reach base frequently. Mack will be one of those guys who has the potential to surprise everyone and develop into a decent (but slightly underwhelming) corner outfielder.

Robert Lyerly-3B-Bats-L Throw-R

The solid hitting lefty Lyerly missed some time in 2009 to injury which caused his draft stock to slip a bit. Reports are though that Lyerly has major sleeper potential and if he can find his groove at the plate he'll be a very interesting guy to watch in the future.

Luke Murton-1B-Bats-R Throws-R

Murton was an interesting pick in the 19th round for the Yankees. He was banged up in 2009 but put up very solid numbers for Georgia Tech. He's a power hitter who has found some good plate discipline of late and has shown the ability to avoid striking out. Older brother is Matt Murton for whatever that's worth.

Arodys Vizcaino-RHP

Vizcaino is quickly jumping up on Yankee prospect lists as the 18 year old has created a buzz to start his season. He's used his fastball that touches 95 and an advanced curveball that he can command well to strike out 21 batters in just 12 innings of work so far. Vizcaino can't really be called a sleeper anymore as he's definitely arrived as a prospect.

Gavin Brooks-LHP

Brooks is a UCLA closer who was our 9th pick in this years draft. He's a big boy and can throw pretty hard with impressive stuff. Brooks was highly touted as a prospect in High School but went to college and suffered some injuries which kept him from reaching his potential. He was a closer this year as a junior and instead of returning to school to improve his draft stock for 2010, he signed with the Yankees in the 9th round. So far he has 7 K's in 3.2 innings of work- hope he can build on this as he's high on my list of sleeper candidates.

]]> http://mvn.com/pendingpinstripes/2009/07/staten-island-players-to-watch.html http://mvn.com/pendingpinstripes/2009/07/staten-island-players-to-watch.html Arodys Vizcaino Deangelo Mack Gavin Brooks Kyle Higashioka Luke Murton Neil Medchill New York Yankees Prospects Robert Lyerly Staten Island Yankees Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:41:10 -0500 Links For Wednesday; Mariotti, Red Sox, Zorilla Interview Ladies and gentlemen, here are your links for Wednesday. And, since we took off yesterday, you get double the fun...

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan, due to make $12.75-M this season, has struggled so far in 2009. Suppan is currently 5-6 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.66 WHIP, a performance that has hovered near replacement-level.

So how are Brewer fans taking out their frustration, you ask? By attempting to auction off Suppan on eBay.

Tom Verducci published his All-Star ballot yesterday. You can compare his picks to the staff of Around the Majors' by following the link.

Eric Seidman had an interesting post over the weekend about why we need to consider sample sizes before making conclusions about a player's hot streak or slump.

Friend of the site Sarah Green produced her All-Hot Team over at UmpBump.

This next link deserves its own post, really. Tommy Rancel, who attempted to unlock the Zobrist Code earlier this spring, returns with Part Two. This time, though, Rancel went straight to the man, the legend, Zorillia himself.

Richard Justice had a nice profile on reliever LaTroy Hawkins.

FanHouse blogger (and former hated Sun Times columnist) Jay Mariotti says that steroid guessing is bad journalism, becoming yet another writer from the "old guard" to call out Midwest Sports Report blogger Jerrod Morris. It didn't take long for Morris, the blogger who penned the infamous Raul Ibanez post, to fire back.

I, of course, side with Morris here, but ATM is fair and balanced, so I present you with both sides.

Crazy contest between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox last night. I turned the game on when I got home from work. After watching the Boston offense light up Camden Yards in the early innings, I left the broadcast on in the other room while I took care of some chores around my apartment. A few hours later, it dawned on me that the announcers had stopped talking. Thus, I assumed the game was over, with the Red Sox taking a win in dominant fashion. When I heard the voice of Dennis Eckersley again about an hour later, I just assumed that NESN was airing a replay of the earlier game. It turns out, though, there was a lengthy rain delay and the Boston bullpen, among the best in the game, imploded when play resumed, allowing the Orioles to get back in the game. Baltimore eventually came out victorious, winning 11-10.

The Orioles made history, writes Jeff Zrebieck.

Ozzie Guillen to the Cubs down the road?

Brian Cashman told reporters that the Eric Hinske deal made sense for the New York Yankees.

Pulling a Buster Olney here: Matt Garza was the man for the Tampa Bay Rays, writes Joe Smith.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus is ready to begin rehabbing in Florida, writes Joe Strauss.

Colorado Rockies right-hander Jason Marquis shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jim Peltz says that Marquis is the Rockies' ace. While that may be a stretch, the veteran has been huge for Colorado, leading the charge in their hot streak. No promises, but he may be the topic of a future post.

The Cincinnati Reds are definitely looking for a bat, according to general manager Walt Jocketty, whose not afraid to make a deal.

Dave Cameron had a different take on the Nats-Pirates swap.

In an absolute must read, Joe Posnanski and Bill James (what a team, by the way) discuss the age-33 falloff phenomenon.

Mike Axisa, our guest on Minor League Notebook Weekly this week, did a Q & A with Ben Badler of Baseball America.

Jerry Crasnick discusses the Indians' fall in his latest. The Cleveland offensive woes even prompted one SB Nation poster to come up with a short play: Dysfunction at the Bat.

Get ready, America: Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel are set to make their minor league debuts.

]]> http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/links-for-wednesday-red-sox-mariotti-zorillia-interview.html http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/links-for-wednesday-red-sox-mariotti-zorillia-interview.html Ben Zobrist Boston Red Sox MLB New York Yankees Pittsburgh Pirates Tampa Bay Rays Washington Nationals Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:25:00 -0500 Orioles Mount Biggest Comeback In Franchise History 11-10 win for the biggest comeback in Orioles franchise history. This was after John Smoltz left before the fifth innings, throwing just 56 pitches and let it into the hands of one of the best bullpens in baseball. The Red Sox would use five pitchers in those two innings and Hideki Okajima gave up five hits and charged with four earned runs.

Red Sox nation remorse as the Yankee and Rays (that's me) rejoices. The Red Sox are only now two and a half games ahead of the Yankees and four games ahead of the smoking hot Rays.
]]> http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/orioles-mount-biggest-comeback-in-franchise-history.html http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/orioles-mount-biggest-comeback-in-franchise-history.html Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Hideki Okajima John Smoltz MLB New York Yankees Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0800 Busy Day For Bucs

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a busy day on Tuesday, pulling the trigger on two different trades.

In the first move, Pittsburgh sent veteran Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees in exchange for low-level minor leaguers Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer.

While Erickson and Fryer have limited upside, the Pirates really didn't have any need to keep Hinske on the roster anymore. Thus, it's hard to knock the organization for trying to get some value in return, anything, for the soon-to-be free-agent's services.

Erickson, already 24 years old and still pitching in A-Ball, is certainly not an elite prospect. Plus, he has already transformed into a reliever, limiting his potential value down the road. He has been successful at Charleston in the Carolina League, though, posting a 2.25 ERA and 2.54 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) mark. The 6-foot-3 right-hander, a 10th-round selection out of junior college back in 2006, has produced rates of 7.57 K/9 and 2.66 BB/9 without allowing a home run in 44.1 innings pitched.

Erickson, who was also drafted by the Chicago Cubs out of high school in 2004, can touch 94 MPH on the radar gun, but generally sits in the low-90s with his fastball. He also mixes in an average curve ball and improving change-up. Barring a major breakout or improvement in velocity, though, he profiles as nothing more than a marginal major league reliever; he didn't make the Yankees' organization Top 20 list by any major scouting publication.

Fryer has now been traded twice in the past four months; the Milwaukee Brewers sent him to New York in exchange for left-hander Chase Wright--the guy who gave up four consecutive home runs to the Boston Red Sox--back in spring training. Like Erickson, he is 23 years old and has been playing against much younger competition for the Tampa Yankees in the Florida State League. The Ohio State product has put up a career minor league line of .286/.363/.424 and .787 OPS since being drafted by the Brewers in the 10th round of the 2007 draft. He's limited defensively, however, and unlikely to stick at catcher long term. Once he moves to another position on the diamond, his value will diminish greatly. Making matters worse, he has struggled to produce against more advanced pitching in 2009, batting just .250/.333/.344 with a .320 Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA) in 255 plate appearances.

As Kevin Goldstein wrote on his Twitter account, the pair of prospects solely represents bodies to add to the Pittsburgh farm system. While the return is hardly anything to write home about, though, it's clear that Hinske was expendable; a free agent at the end of the season, he was obviously unlikely to be part of the next truly great Pirates team and cleared waivers two weeks ago. Thus, the thought processes used--even though the players may never make an impact--were sound, also providing a bit of payroll relief.

On the Yankees' end, Hinske was a nice pickup. The former Rookie of the Year has struggled in his first year with the Pirates, posting a line of .255/.373/.368 with just a single home run. His OPS+ of 103 is above average, but his .333 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) will come down to earth when his luck regresses back to the mean. The biggest surprise with him so far, though, is the sudden power outage. In a comeback performance with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, he came out raking and finished with 20 homers and a solid .347 wOBA in 381 plate appearances. The fly balls haven't found the seats for him in Pittsburgh, though, as his Isolated Power (IsoP) has fallen from .218 to .113.

While Hinske isn't performing at the same level as he did in Tampa Bay, the power totals should improve; ZiPS projects him to hit .237/.333/.407 the rest of the way, with his average dropping and IsoP rising. He's not much of a defender (he has been worth -4.7 fielding runs in his career, according to FanGraphs), but he can play multiple positions, including third base. With Alex Rodriguez expected to require rest every few days, he could be a nice fill-in for New York at the hot corner. Plus, he adds insurance if Rodriguez faces any more injury issues. Essentially taking the roster spot from replacement-level infielder Cody Ransom, he could net the Yanks about a win in the standings; he was worth 2.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for the Rays in '08 when accounting for batting, fielding, replacement and positional factors, with the total sitting at 0.3 in '09. He won't set the world on fire, but, at a relatively cheap price, Brian Cashman and the Yankees were wise to acquire him.

The bigger trade for Pittsburgh, rumored since the weekend, became official later in the afternoon. The Bucs sent reliever Sean Burnett and starting left fielder Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals in exchange for reliever Joel Hanrahan and once-hyped outfield prospect Lastings Milledge.

Although many Pirate veterans were disappointed by another big move (weeks after saying goodbye to Nate McLouth), the thought processes used by Neil Huntington in this player swap were excellent. Milledge, who has seen his stock bottom out completely, will eventually determine the outcome of this deal, but the buy-low mindset used here is exactly the approach the Pirates should be taking to rebuild the ship. Not too long ago, the former first-rounder was considered one of the premier outfield prospects in the game; heck, in high school, Perfect Game USA compared him to Wille Mays*, and he probably would have gone earlier than 12th in the first round if not for off-field issues that forced him to transfer schools his senior year.

*Perfect Game, it's worth pointing out, also raved about his makeup, writing, "We should add, that in the 3 or 4 years we have gotten to know him and watched Lastings play... We have never seen anything other than great character, politeness and a willingness to do what it takes. We think he has championship caliber makeup and will be a Big League star performer!"

Now, which seems more far-fetched?: the Mays comparison or the make-up assessment?

It hasn't worked according to plan for Milledge, however, as he has produced a meager line of .261/.326/.400 and .89 OPS+ in 1,004 plate appearances in the majors. He got his New York career off to an auspicious start when he high-fived fans on the right field line after delivering a big home run shortly after making his debut, an act which rubbed many within the industry the wrong way. Since then, his personal baggage and issues--which boiled over this spring, when Nationals manager Manny Acta became so fed up with him that he sent him packing to Triple-A--have garnered more attention than his performance. As well, he graded out statistically as one of the worst defensive center fielders in the game in '08, compiling a -17.1 UZR in 1,185.2 innings at the position during his first full year playing there at the highest level.

That said, Milledge is still only 24 and tremendously talented; the scouts who loved him in high school weren't wrong to praise his ability. Due to his tremendous tools, many analysts applauded the Nationals for acquiring him in the 2007 offseason, seeing it as a buy-low even then; Jim Bowden, infatuated with troubled but talented outfielders loaded with tools, sent Ryan Church and Brian Schneider to the Mets, causing many people to rip Omar Minaya for giving up on Milledge too soon. With his struggles in his debut in the nation's capital (0.1 WAR total, a tick above replacement-level) and demotion to the minors in April, though, his value is even lower this time around.

Sure, Milledge may never pan out. Perhaps he's a legitimate cancer with personal issues that will prevent him from ever harnessing his talent and seeing it translate into results. For a team like the Pirates, though, he was more than a risk worth taking. He's under team control at an affordable rate until 2013, potentially giving the club a cost-efficient asset who could emerge as a solid regular if he can put his problems behind him.

Hanrahan has posted an alarming 7.71 ERA in 32.2 innings pitched, which may make the casual Pittsburgh fan a bit weary. He has missed bats to the tune of 9.64 K/9 rate, though, while producing a 3.56 FIP, an excellent predictor of ERA going forward. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has struggled with command (3.86 BB/9), but has fallen victim to some bad luck and was unfortunate to pitch in front of an embarrassingly terrible Nationals defensive unit; the Nats rank 29th in the majors with a putrid .681 Defensive Efficiency Rating. As a result of both factors beyond his control, his BABIP is a ridiculously high .451, 100-plus points greater than his .347 career mark. ZiPS has his ERA at 3.80 the rest of the way, so if he continues to miss bats, he'll be a capable addition to the bullpen for Pittsburgh.

Hanrahan, also under team control until 2013, throws hard. His average fastball velocity for his career is 93.8 MPH, coming at 95.2 in '08 and 93.9 in '09. He primarily relies on the heater (66.1% of his pitches) but also mixes in a mid-80s slider and mediocre change-up. With his velocity, the 27-year-old should be able to keep putting up healthy strikeout rates.

The Pirates did have to give up two decent (but expendable) pieces to pull off the move.

Burnett, a 26-year-old southpaw, has been an effective bullpen arm in Pittsburgh, posting a 3.06 ERA and 134 ERA+ in 32.1 innings pitched. His peripherals are less than stellar, though, as he pitches to his defense and doesn't miss a lot of bats (6.40 K/9). He has also had command problems at times (4.18 BB/9) and been assisted by an unsustainable .218 BABIP and 78.2 strand rate. Given the disparity in ERA, it's surprising that he actually has a higher FIP (4.50) than Hanrahan, who also has better stuff. The former first-rounder (2000) gets by with a four-pitch arsenal that includes a high-80s fastball, high-70s slider and low-80s change-piece.

Morgan is an easy player to root for. A former hockey player, he won over the local media with his personality and quickly became a fan favorite in the Steel City. Like Hinske, however, he was never going to be a factor on a contender in Pittsburgh and objectively isn't really anything special. He is what he is offensively: a speedy player who can hit for a nice batting average and draw some walks. He has almost no power (.090 career IsoP, .376 career slugging), though, and, despite his wheels, is an inefficient base stealer; he has been thrown out 18 times in 52 total chances. Entering Tuesday, Morgan is hitting .277/.351/.356 with a 93 OPS+ and .315 wOBA. Most encouraging, he has improved his walk rate (9.4%) while working better at-bats. Still, the Juan-Pierre Junior nickname is merited and does a nice job of distinguishing his upside as a hitter; ZiPS has him producing a .307 wOBA from this point on.

Most of Morgan's value, however, comes from his excellent outfield defense. Indeed, he has been one of the best left field defenders in baseball so far, producing a 12.4 UZR and 23.6 UZR/150; he leads the majors in UZR. Largely due to the runs that he has shaved off with his glove, he has been worth 1.9 WAR. Considering the nightmare mix of fielders--being generous there--the Nats have run out, from Adam Dunn to Josh Willingham, he'll be a major upgrade for Washington on this front, perhaps helping them stay out of the cellar in defensive efficiency. He doesn't become arbitration-eligible until 2011, so he'll provide some nice value for his new club if he continues to play stellar defense; plus, adding a plus defender to the mix will go along way to help the Nats' young pitching staff. For that reason, Mike Rizzo deserves some credit.

Overall, the Pirates had a productive day as Huntington continues to build for the future. Unlike his predecessor Dave Littlefield, whose sole priority was seemingly to keep his job (moral hazard 101), he has done what he thought was right for the long-term health of the franchise, regardless of the short-term backlash and consequences among the media and fan base. For a team that is going on its 17th losing season and wandered aimlessly for decades, that kind of vision is paramount.

Milledge is a nice gamble, and, even if he doesn't emerge as an impact player, the cost of two expendable and replaceable pieces in Burnett and Morgan won't do any serious damage. Hinske wasn't exactly a building block, either. Although he didn't fetch much in return, the idea of adding depth and saving money was solid.

For the Yankees, Hinske could provide a nice boost down the stretch, as well as insurance for A-Rod; call him GEICO. If he regains the power stroke, the Yanks could be looking at 1.0-WAR-level production in return for two minor leaguers whose departure will hardly make a dent to their farm system depth.

Washington upgrades its defense, an absolute necessity for that outfield, and rids itself of one of Bowden's toolsy outfielder reclamation projects. Still, Pittsburgh was the winner from a process perspective.

Tyler Hissey is the host of Minor League Notebook Weekly. To reach him, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com. ]]> http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/productive-day-for-bucs.html http://mvn.com/aroundthemajors/2009/07/productive-day-for-bucs.html Eric Hinske Jim Bowden Joel Hanrahan Lastings Milledge MLB New York Yankees Pittsburgh Pirates Sean Burnett Washington Nationals Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:50:00 -0500 Wednesday's Games of the Day
Washington at Florida: The Nyjer Morgan era begins in Washington. He and his new teammates will face the 7-1 Josh Johnson. Johnson is 4-0 agains the Nats in his career. Nick Johnson has a .556 batting average against Josh Johnson.

Tampa Bay at Toronto: The Rays keep rolling. They defeated Toronto 4-1 on Tuesday running their win streak to 8 games and handing Toronto their fourth straight loss. The series finale features James Shields and Ricky Romero, two very exciting pitchers. Shields is 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in his last three starts against the Jays. Look for him to turn it around thanks to his team being hot right now. He'll get help from Marco Scutaro who is in the midst of a 1-for-16 slump with his last hit coming on June 26.

Boston at Baltimore: Josh Beckett goes for win number 10 against Brad Bergesen. Bergesen was 3-0 in June. Beckett is 4-1 lifetime at Camden Yards. I'm looking for Adam Jones to rebound from a poor June. Doing it against Josh Beckett might not happen. Teammate Luke Scott has a .545 batting average with 1 homer and 3 RBI against Beckett.
]]> http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/wednesdays-games-of-the-day-3.html http://mlbnotebook.com/2009/07/wednesdays-games-of-the-day-3.html Adam Jones Atlanta Braves Baltimore Orioles Brad Bergesen Brad Hawpe Chicago Cubs Clayton Kershaw Cole Hamels Colorado Rockies Dallas Braden Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Games of the Day Ian Snell James Loney James Shields Jarrod Washburn Jason Hammel Jered Weaver Josh Beckett Justin Verlander Kevin Millwood Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Luke Scott Marco Scutaro Mike Pelfrey Milwaukee Brewers MLB New York Mets New York Yankees Nick Johnson Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Torii Hunter Toronto Blue Jays Virgil Vasquez Washington Nationals Yovani Gallardo Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:35:00 -0800