A Handful Of Drug Store Andre Dawson Cards

 As I start to dig in deeper and deeper into the assortment of Andre Dawson cards that are out there, I am often amazed by what I come across.  While the subsets of the 1980’s and early 1990’s cannot compare to the bonanza of parallel cards from this decade, there was certainly more to tackle [...]

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http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/a-handful-of-drug-store-andre-dawson-c
ards/

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Yanks Interested in Top Cuban Pitcher

While recently playing in a tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Cuba's top pitching prospect, Aroldis Chapman defected from the Cuban national team. Apparently, the Yanks are interested. Here's more from SI.com:

Aroldis Chapman, whose age was reported to be 21 years old, walked out of his hotel room in Rotterdam and did not return, a spokesman for the Dutch baseball team said Friday. Chapman told cubaencuentro.com he was in Europe, but refused to reveal his location.

Chapman, whose fastball reportedly exceeds 100 mph, is widely considered the No. 1 pitching prospect in Cuba. The New York Times reported the Yankees, who have been at the forefront of signing international pitchers, will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Chapman.

Chapman pitched for Cuba during the World Baseball Classic in March, where he posted a 5.68 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Reports during that tournament listed Chapman's age as 26.

In an interview with the Times, Yale University professor Roberto González Echevarría, the author of The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball, called Chapman "the most promising young pitcher" to leave Cuba since Fidel Castro took over in 1959.

"He throws at a 100 miles per hour, he is more polished than most young pitchers at his age," González Echevarría told the Times. "He is a really hot property, and it will be interesting to see how much teams pay to sign him."

Here's some more from ESPN's Buster Olney:



ESPN is also reporting that could receive a contract worth anywhere from $30 million to $60 million. And that "Yankees senior vice president Mark Newman, when contacted by ESPN The Magazine, said it's "safe to assume" the Yankees would have interest in Chapman."

So, do you think the Yanks should go for it and sign the 21 or 26-year-old? I do. "A left-handed Steven Strausburg" who has three pitches? Why the heck not?

I don't know about you, but I have no problem with the Yankees taking financial risks on international free agents. They have all the money in the world, so a bust here or there isn't going to hurt them.

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/kGAX2JyvEDU/yanks-interested-in
-top-cuban-pitcher.html

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Yanks Interested in Top Cuban Pitcher

While recently playing in a tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Cuba's top pitching prospect, Aroldis Chapman defected from the Cuban national team. Apparently, the Yanks are interested. Here's more from SI.com:

Aroldis Chapman, whose age was reported to be 21 years old, walked out of his hotel room in Rotterdam and did not return, a spokesman for the Dutch baseball team said Friday. Chapman told cubaencuentro.com he was in Europe, but refused to reveal his location.

Chapman, whose fastball reportedly exceeds 100 mph, is widely considered the No. 1 pitching prospect in Cuba. The New York Times reported the Yankees, who have been at the forefront of signing international pitchers, will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Chapman.

Chapman pitched for Cuba during the World Baseball Classic in March, where he posted a 5.68 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Reports during that tournament listed Chapman's age as 26.

In an interview with the Times, Yale University professor Roberto González Echevarría, the author of The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball, called Chapman "the most promising young pitcher" to leave Cuba since Fidel Castro took over in 1959.

"He throws at a 100 miles per hour, he is more polished than most young pitchers at his age," González Echevarría told the Times. "He is a really hot property, and it will be interesting to see how much teams pay to sign him."

Here's some more from ESPN's Buster Olney:



ESPN is also reporting that could receive a contract worth anywhere from $30 million to $60 million. And that "Yankees senior vice president Mark Newman, when contacted by ESPN The Magazine, said it's "safe to assume" the Yankees would have interest in Chapman."

So, do you think the Yanks should go for it and sign the 21 or 26-year-old? I do. "A left-handed Steven Strausburg" who has three pitches? Why the heck not?

I don't know about you, but I have no problem with the Yankees taking financial risks on international free agents. They have all the money in the world, so a bust here or there isn't going to hurt them.

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/kGAX2JyvEDU/yanks-interested-in
-top-cuban-pitcher.html

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Walk Off...

Hank Blalock hit his first walk off home run of his career on Wednesday. It was only his eighth multi-homerun game of his career. It came in a clutch position that won the game and the series against the Angels for the Rangers. Hopefully we can continue this streak against the Rays. GO RANGERS!


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http://rangersnewsbag.blogspot.com/2009/07/walk-off.html

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Braves place 2B Johnson on 15-day DL (AP)

Struggling Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist tendinitis. The move was made before Atlanta opened a three-game weekend series against the Washington Nationals on Friday. Braves manager Bobby Cox said Johnson's recent slump could be traced to the wrist problem.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/03/braves-place-2b-johnson-on-15-day-dl-ap/

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07.02.09 – Minor League Report

TOM O’SHEA’S MINOR LEAGUE REPORT        7-2-09

THE OGDEN RAPTORS       ROOKIE

Orem drop kicks the Raptors over the desert mountains and into the sun set 14-6.

VASQUEZ (L, 0-1, 9.35), started and there is nothing nice that can be said about his pitching.  In fact, every hurler for the Raptors gave up more earned runs than they pitched innings so it’s best to try and forget they even tried to be professional pitchers on July 2nd lest you lose your temper and start looking for  4 strong ropes and 4 appropriate trees.  Little League teams have made better collective efforts.

SONGCO (.343) smashed his 4th home run and  ERICKSON (.233) hit his 2nd round tripper.  CAVAZOS-GALVEZ (.268), hit 2 doubles, his 3rd and 4th.

CAVAZOS-GALVEZ went 3-5; SANDS (.463), went 3-5; JACOBS (.333) went 2-4 with a walk.  IDEN (.211), went 2-4.
THE ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES    AAA  

AN ARTICLE ON  CHARLIE HAEGER, AAA ALL STAR WHO HAS THROWN 12 QUALITY STARTS OUT OF 15, A 3.75 ERA AND 8-4 RECORD.  Haeger throws the knuckleball, a decent slider and a good fastball according to those who’ve seen him pitch:
            

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090701&content_id=5647670&vkey=news_t342&fext=.jsp&sid=t342

Isotopes beat Memphis 3-2.

JOSH LINDBLOM (W, 1-0, 1.50) looked like a future Ace for the Isoltopes in a quality start yesterday on the 2nd.  He went 6 innings on 3 hits, 1 run (earned) 3 walks and 4 Ks. THREETS (H, 10, 1.72) set up closer STRICKLAN D (S, 15, 3.86). THREETS went 2 innings and gave up just a hit and had a strike out. STRICKLAND allowed one earned run in his 1 inning of work.

DEWITT (.245), HOFFMAN (.272) REPKO (.258), and CLOSSER (.347) all had 2 hit games for the “Topes.

 
THE CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS    AA   

The Lookouts lose to Carolina 4-3.

TRAVIS CHICK (L, 6-4, 3.70), pitched a quality start in a losing effort going 7 innings and giving up 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 0 walks.  He struck out 7.  He’d have fared better had he not been bitten by the gopher ball–surrendering 2 taters to Carolina.  RODRIGUEZ (3.64), GARATE (2.43) and BATISTA (2.63) all mopped up well for the Lookouts pitching shut out ball the rest of the way.

3 Lookouts blasted doubles:  ANDREW LAMBO (.266), his 25th, JOSH BELL (.281), his 20th, and GOODWIN (.233),  his 7th.  BELL went 2-3 with one walk.

 

THE INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS     A    ADVANCED   

STEVE JOHNSON (3.80) pitched a quality start going 6.1 innings and gave up 2 runs (earned) on 6 hits, 2 walks and fanned 8.  SCHREIBER (0.00), BRANNON  (5.87), and PFEIFFER (W, 2-2, 2.60), pitched shut out ball the rest of the way.

CASERES (.295), whacked a triple, his 4th.  ORTIZ (.242) and TRAYVON ROBINSON  (.296) both hit doubles.  For ROBINSON, it was his 22nd.

PRESTON MATTINGLY (.276) went 3-5.

 
THE GREAT LAKES LOONS     A    

The Loons played a double header against Lansing winning the day game 4-2 and coming up a day late and a dollar sort in the night cap 3-1.

In the day game, BLEVINS (W, 6-5, 4.33) pitched a complete game, giving up just 2 runs (earned ) on 6 hits, walking 0 and striking out 5.  He gave up one home run.

JAMIE PEDROZA (.277) hit his 10th homer.  SILVERIO (.268) hit his 5th.  PEDROZA also whacked is 21st double.  PEDROZA was the only Loonie to get 2 hits going 2-3.

In the night cap they were winning 1-0 going into last inning when the whneels came off ther wagon.  MILLER (L, 3-5) pitched 6.1 innings, a quality start, and gasve jup 2 earned runs on 4 its, 1 walk and 7 Ks.  ST. CLAIR gave up an earned run in 2/3ds of an inning of relief.

MATT WALLACH whacked his 1st homer of the year in the 5th inning.

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http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/07/07-02-09-minor-league-report/

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A Strange Manny Video For Your Pre-Return
Indulgement

video details and more



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http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2009/07/strange-manny-video-for-your-pre-return.html

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Will Manny Get Wood On The Ball

Rants & Raves:

• Thanks to Roger Dodger for the best “Get Well Pot” I have ever seen!  Very cool!  I guess that means I have to allow hom to keep ragging on me.
• My Physical Therapy is progressing very well.  I can walk for short distances and up and down stairs without a cane or walker.  I have two more PT sessions and I am released… 3 weeks early!  My therapist says my recovery is the fastest she has seen.  I’m excited!
• Clayton Kershaw has a 0.76 ERA over his past 23 2/3 innings.  Not bad.   He’s not where we want him to be, but he’s still awesome.
• Cole Hamels ERA is 4.98. 
• C-Bill has been one of the most consistent starters in all of baseball since last years All-Star game.
• Matt Kemp should make the All-Star Team.  Other Dodgers I think should be on the team: Billingsley, Broxton, Hudson and Martin (JUST KIDDING ABOUT MARTIN, JUST KIDDING!)
• Hiroki Kuroda could do a lot to make Manny’s return easier by throwing  BB’s and shutting down the Padres to shut up the fans.
• I guess when you have a Million Dollars tied up in a bum like Vargas, you have to actually see him do bad before releasing him.
• Josh Lindblom was “lights out” in his AAA start last night.  If we want a pitcher, most teams will demand him.  Do you want to trade him?  I don’t!!!
• The fans at Petco threw a syringe at Barry Bonds.  I wonder what they will throw at Mann?
• I still believe that Ron Artest has an amazing innate ability to create a train wreck for the Lakers.  I think the Lakers will rue the day they let Ariza walk.

CHECK BACK FOR TONIGHT’S LINEUP

1.

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http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/07/will-manny-get-wood-on-the-bat/

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Game Preview: Mets at Phillies [Game 79] July 3,
2009

New York Mets (39-39 Road: 17-22) at Philadelphia Phillies (39-37 Home: 13-22) 7:05 pmLivan Hernandez (5-3 4.04) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (0-0 0.00)TV: SNY  Radio:  WFANWhat to watch: The Mets take their two game winning streak into Philly tonight. The Phils just got swept in Atlanta and have lost six of their last eight games. Hernandez hasn’t [...]

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Kelly Johnson to the DL

Kelly Johnson to the DL

I knew last night Brooks Conrad was going up to Atlanta. Now we know who's spot he's taking.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2009/7/3/936975/kelly-johnson-to-the-dl

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