Manny apologizes, wont discuss steroids (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 July 2009 05:25:54 PM. © MLB News Blog

Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could. Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference Friday afternoon. He refused to answer questions about steroids, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/03/manny-apologizes-wont-discuss-steroids-ap/

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Is it time to CASH-IN on Fernando Martinez

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 03 July 2009 05:14:59 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

The Mets have a opportunity to make some personnel moves (trade) while they are in striking distance and only 1 game out..... But, the Mets seem to think that they will have a healthy Beltran , Delgado, Reyes, and maybe Putz after the All-Star break...They also have a chance to get Billy Wagner back, who seems to be making head way. This maybe the reason we have not seen any moves yet...

But the Mets do have Fernando Martinez , a guy who the Mets are infatuated about..

It might be time to trade him and Cash-in now before it's too late.. He is only batting .178 and his fielding at times looks like a circus act. His value will only decline if it gets worse..

He is a guy that I don't get a really good feeling about. The Mets are hoping he can be Beltran's replacement, but he might be nothing...

When Reyes came up from the minors we knew we had something.. He had a swagger like I am here - (Hate me !!) I don't sense that with F-Mart.. He has some flashes, but some bumps too..

Here is a suggestion to Mr. Minaya, maybe the Mets could trade F-Mart and Niese plus lower level prospects for Roy Oswalt and Carlos Lee... The Astros would love to dump salary, but will the Mets take on salary? The Mets are not really selling out Citi Field like the thought they would and the injuries to stars are not helping much. This the type of splash you could make in a time of need..

In the other side, Drayton McLane's team is only 1 game out , but the team is losing money... The Astros could use some prospects because there farm system is one of the worst. Plus, if you can shed $ 30+ Million off a $109 Million in salaries who is better than you?

Carlos Lee is a run producer and HE IS A RIGHT HANDED HITTER.. and Oswalt is a winner on a bad team..The Mets could use these 2 guys to bolt them into October while giving up some prospects.. I don't think we can get in to the playoffs on just wait and see attitude..

The Mets are putting too much pressure on these guys (Reyes, Delgado, and Beltran) to come back in here after their injuries and make major impacts..

I hope if the Mets don't get into the playoffs they fire Minaya, but the Mets won't..

I think all the Mets care about is saving a dollar..

Here is Carlos Lee's Stats:
Batting Last 3 years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
2007 HOU 162 627 93 190 43 1 32 119 53 63 10 5 .303 .354 .528 .882
2008 HOU 115 436 61 137 27 0 28 100 37 49 4 1 .314 .368 .569 .937
2009 HOU 77 288 34 87 13 1 12 47 24 23 2 2 .302 .353 .479 .832
Career
1557 5921 908 1722 353 13 293 1048 484 788 112 40 .291 .344 .503 .847
Oswalt's stats:

Pitching Last 3 years Team G GS W L SV BS HLD CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP BAA
2007 HOU 33 32 14 7 0 0 1 1 0 212.0 221 80 75 14 60 154 3.18 1.33 .265
2008 HOU 32 32 17 10 0 0 0 3 2 208.2 199 89 82 23 47 165 3.54 1.18 .253
2009 HOU 17 17 4 4 0 0 0 2 0 105.1 107 47 47 13 30 83 4.02 1.30 .267
Career
270 258 133 68 0 0 1 17 6 1727.1 1680 659 611 148 400 1418 3.18 1.20 .256
F-Mart's Stats:

Batting Last 3 years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
2009 NYM 28 90 11 16 6 0 1 8 5 14 2 0 .178 .245 .278 .523
Career
28 90 11 16 6 0 1 8 5 14 2 0 .178 .245 .278 .523
Niese's stats:

2009 StatsGW-LERAIPHBBKSVWHIPNYMMLB20-05.9110.21421001.50BUF (nym)AAA133-64.8572.180216501.40
You're Move Minaya ...

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ddmetsfanblog.com/2009/07/is-it-time-to-cash-in-on-fernando.html

Digg this

June 25 2009 Arial Demolition Images

post from Demolition of Yankee Stadium on 03 July 2009 05:12:22 PM. © Demolition of Yankee Stadium

Photo Credit: james_rawimages (Flickr)Bookmark To:

Read The Full Article:
http://www.demolitionofyankeestadium.com/2009/07/03/june-25-2009-arial-demolition
-images/

Digg this

Open Thread 7/3: Braves at Natinals

post from Talking Chop on 03 July 2009 05:09:00 PM. © Talking Chop

More photos » by Charles Dharapak - AP

Browse more photos »

Let's see if we can beat the worst team in baseball. I feel confident with us coming off of a 3-game sweep of the Phils, but the Nationals always play us tough.

Kelly Johnson was placed on the DL with right wrist tendinitis, which could explain some of his hitting problems. Brooks Conrad was called up to replace him.

Tonight's game will also tell us if Kenshin Kawakami is all right after getting hit in the neck last week.

Current Series

3 game series vs Nationals @ Nationals Park

Atlanta Braves Talking Chop
@ Washington Nationals Federal Baseball

Friday, Jul 3, 2009, 6:35 PM EDT
Nationals Park

Kenshin Kawakami vs Ross Detwiler

Mostly sunny. Game time temperature around 80.

Complete Coverage >

Sat 07/04 1:05 PM EDT Sun 07/05 1:35 PM EDT

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2009/7/3/937206/open-thread-7-3-braves-at-natinals

Digg this

Casey Fossum - the Newest Iowa Cub

post from Cubs f/x on 03 July 2009 05:05:00 PM. © Cubs f/x

The Cubs signed lefty Casey Fossum and put him in Iowa. I don't know the specifics of the deal, but[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cubsfx/~3/FOUGkFPoPpQ/casey-fossum-newest-iowa-cub
.html

Digg this

Game 78 Thread: Cardinals at Reds

post from Red Reporter on 03 July 2009 05:00:00 PM. © Red Reporter

Next Game

St. Louis Cardinals
@ Cincinnati Reds

Friday, Jul 3, 2009, 7:10 PM EDT
Great American Ball Park

Joel Pineiro vs Homer Bailey

Partly cloudy. Game time temperature around 80.

Complete Coverage >

W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2009 - Joel Pineiro6-93.441.184212

W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2009 - Homer Bailey1-08.682.04513

Thom Brennaman was saying in yesterday's game that it's hard to overstate the importance of tonight's start for Homer Bailey. I have to say that I agree with him. The Cardinals are tied for first with the Brewers and the Reds are just 2 games back. A series win won't necessarily put the Reds in first, but it is still an absolute must. Winning tonight makes a series win that much easier.

Oh, and the game is sold out.

No pressure, Homer, but the Reds really need you to be on your game tonight. Hopefully you've got that splitter working.

Pitcher Witch Dave Duncan has worked his magic once again with Joel Pineiro. Somehow, Pineiro has managed to put together some good numbers despite striking out just 3.8 batters per 9 IP. The main cause for his success is his league leading walk-rate (1.1 BB/9) and home run rate (0.3 HR/9). So, it's probably not a good idea to sit around waiting for a walk or a 3-run home run. Thankfully, that's not this team's forte.

The good thing going for the Reds as they head into this series is that the Cardinals' offense hasn't been doing much lately either. Over their last 11 games, they've managed just 2.5 R/G. What's truly amazing about that is that Albert Pujols has been batting .375/.545/.875 during those 11 games. The lesson here is that if you are going to pitch to Pujols, you better not let anybody else get on base in front of him.

This is about the 5th HUGE series for the Reds so far this year, and I can't think of a single time that they have stepped up and performed in those situations. This would be an opportunte time to finally step up. It's a holiday weekend and they are going to have some big crowds. Sounds like a great time to energize the fans and the city, doesn't it?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.redreporter.com/2009/7/3/937122/game-78-thread-cardinals-at-reds

Digg this

DOB says something is afoot

post from Talking Chop on 03 July 2009 04:47:00 PM. © Talking Chop

DOB says something is afoot

An hour long meeting between Bobby and Frank, eh? I don't think it would have taken then an hour to decide to DL KJ and call up Conrad.

DOB's speculation is that Vazquez could be dealt(for an impact bat we would control for longer than just this year), or that Yunel is close to being moved.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2009/7/3/937197/dob-says-something-is-afoot

Digg this

Notes From Game 79

One of the things that kept the Yankees hot in late May and early June was the fact that they went nearly 40 days without losing back-to-back games. And after a loss last night, the Yankees refused to lose and bounced right back in this Friday matinee.A.J. Burnett was lights out through seven innings. He [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YankeesRumors/~3/ZSoP3SNjqy0/

Digg this

Dodgers trade Stephen Randolph to Royals

35 year old lefty, born in Okinawa, 109 Major League games, 6 starts, 5.52 career ERA, 136 walks/134 strikeouts, named in the Mitchell Report, 5 for 15 with 3 doubles

Watch out John Bale

Read The Full Article:
http://www.royalsreview.com/2009/7/3/937181/dodgers-trade-stephen-randolph-to

Digg this

Ryan: No financial restrictions on team (AP)

Texas team president Nolan Ryan said Friday that the club is not hamstrung by owner Tom Hicks' financial difficulties, a day after a report that Major League Baseball loaned millions to the team owner. "There haven't been any restrictions put on us," Ryan said. "I just think as we get closer to the trade deadline, [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/03/ryan-no-financial-restrictions-on-team-ap/

Digg this