Links for Thursday, as we await an Opening Day rematch between Josh Johnson and Johan Santana…
- Tony Abreu could be an attractive trade chip if the D'Backs shop him for relief help, writes Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.
- Ken Griffey Jr. should retire gracefully, writes MLB.com's Hal Bodley.
- We shouldn't be surprised to see Drew Storen arrive in the majors before Strasburg. As Ben Goessling of MASN.com explains, the Nationals may choose to reward Storen for signing so soon after they drafted him.
- Yorvit Torrealba has been one of baseball's best free agent bargains, if you ask MLB.com's Corey Brock.
- In a pre-draft notebook, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo explains why pitcher Peter Tago is gaining on some fellow amateurs and the answer is pretty simple.
- Wondering which pitchers have seen their strikeout rate climb or tumble this year? RotoAuthority has the results for the season so far.
- If Mark DeRosa hits the disabled list, the Giants will rely on their own players, mostly John Bowker, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney believes the Nationals would like to debut Stephen Strasburg at home, while his colleague Rob Neyer can see the Nats breaking him in on the road. Last night I suggested we could see Strasburg's first MLB start against the Astros in early June.
- Marc Hulet of FanGraphs says it's too early to worry, but pitching prospect Aaron Crow reminds him a little of another former first rounder in the Royals' system: Luke Hochevar.
Haha, that tidbit about Aaron Crow is more than a little reassuring.
Um, link to Hulett/Fangraphs? I mean, I’ll just go to their site now, but…
sometimes i have dreams that i’m strangling brian sabean….i like those dreams.
You mean you wouldn’t sign two aging infielders coming off surgery to identical multi-year contracts?
it would be soooo tempting to do it….but no. but in july they’re going to sign benito santiago because posey still won’t be ready
The Nats could potentially have a rotation of Livan Hernandez (1.04 era thus far), Scott Olsen (who has been looking pretty good), Strasburg and Chien-Ming Wang with Storen and Capps in the pen….put that with getting Bryce Harper in the draft, this team has some really good talent
I dont think Livan, Olsen, and Wang belong in the pool of “really good talent.”
Livan, regardless of his hot start, is not a good pitcher.
Olsen hasnt had a FIP below 5 since his rookie year
Wang is coming off big should surgery and hasnt been a quality starter since half way through 2008
Agreed, however, Stras will be the #1, Wang #2, Livan #3, Olsen #4…..while they all might not be the best talent, Wang in my opinion is going to come back strong in that division as opposed to the AL East, granted he’s coming off shoulder surgery. Livan will be fine for a 3, Olsen got a mid-3 era so far, not bad for a 4. Not saying they will make playoffs, but have some talent with Zimmerman, Willingham
I hear what you’re saying, but it cannot be emphasized enough that Livan is a piss-poor #3.
Come on dude – Livan does this every single season. Hot start, then fades. I wouldn’t expect this to keep up.
Like, at all. In fact, I’d expect some of the worst pitching you’ll ever see from here on out.
Oh man, Johan/Johnson in the NL and CC/Verlander in the AL. Good day for baseball indeed!
Unfortunately for CC, Miggy is otherworldly right now he is just absolutely crushing the ball.
yes he is. i thought he had another bomb on the day.
aaron crow…..too early to worry, first taste of pro ball outside of independent ball is at AA. featured a really good low to mid 90’s sinker and a mid to high 90’s fastball when needed at mizzou. if he’s working on other stuff which he needs to, or just getting hit right now, i wouldn’t worry. ill call him luke hochevar in another 100 starts
Lets go Nats !!! How about that record !! with zimmerman coming off injuries and Adam Dunn’s slow start . Three cheers for Rizzo
Guys dont forget Jordan Zimmermann coming back from surgery ! and Ross detwieller
“Tony Abreu could be an attractive trade chip if the D’Backs shop him for relief help, writes Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.”
If Sherrill regains his form from last year, could we see an interdivison trade? Dodgers get Abreu back, the Dbacks get a lefty reliever(i remember in the post game show, they asked Loney what it was like knowing the Dbacks had no lefties in the pen..)
i’d love to see Sherrill get out any dodgers , righty, lefty, or armless–without first having given up a couple of walks and a run first… 🙂 You are right though. He could regain form and become himself again, more likely than not. When he does I also agree they need to sell high and get rid of him because the dodgers have enough bullpen to get by…he was a luxury that didn’t quite work out like it should have.
Dodgers hitters would chew him up like laffy taffy.
I don’t think the trade happens because of whatever Colletti has against Abreu’s work ethic/attitude/ScottBoras/player grievance/ cuz it’s one of those reasons they never really gave him a chance despite his talent level. I think Abreu will have a solid career.
It’s hard cuz relievers go out/tire out all the time and who knows who will be in it in a few months, but if i had to guess right now i’d say the brewers (shaky bullpen)or cubs (if they put it together to b in the race they’ll need relief help) if we trade him within the league, but if not the angels (they are going to need more than fuentes and right now their pen isn’t performing well but they r a good team still) w.sox (cuz ozzie will say he wants a loogy and williams will pounce),tigers (they seem to go for names).
i am probably more than 100% wrong on my guesses though
I dont think Abreu didnt get a shot because of his problems, but more health. Then when he was healthy, the Dodgers did their classic “let multiple vets play the position before the rookie”. And then Colletti traded him for Garland.. sigh.
I dont know what other teams would want him, but if his problems really are mechanical and he regains something near his 09 Dodger performance(I dont expect a .6 ERA…), then he could be fairly valuable. Id like to see them get rid of him this year though because we will more-than-likely non tender him this offseason…
I am so mad right now.. I think I was the only one who was destroying Colletti for that trade.
I hate you Ned.
I dont think a lot of people liked the trade, but rather, understood the trade. We needed a solid #3, and Garland did well.. the rotation got healthy and he wasnt needed in the playoffs… obviously, not the best use of talent going in.
Personally, I havent liked Abreu all that much in the past. I think he is going to be a very good bench guy, but wont put it together to be a consistent starter… still, I hated the Sherrill deal the day it was made and still do…
I don’t think Abreu gets traded.
Drew would probably be traded if he keeps his numbers up, which I think he will. Drew in 2008 form with the bat, and Drew in 2010 form with the glove could get a pretty good return.