Some Saturday links as the Red Sox suffer their latest injury, this one involving Clay Buchholz and running the bases…
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Red Sox's acquisition of Eric Patterson came together quickly; they had yet to inquire about him as recently as noon Eastern time today.
- Marlins' first base coach Dave Collins abruptly resigned today, reports Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. He wonders if the move may be related to an imminent Bobby Valentine hiring, but president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said that was not the case (all Twitter links).
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Brandon League is the Mariners' second best trade chip behind Cliff Lee. The hard-throwing righty reliever is owed approximately $590K the rest of the season, and is under team control for two more years.
- With the Yankees facing off against the Dodgers, Tyler Kepner from the New York Times reminds us that Alex Rodriguez was almost a Dodger back in 1993. Fortunately for the Mariners, the first pick still alternated yearly between the AL and NL back then.
- In the comments of his blog, the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien says that conversations with people across the Braves organization yesterday have him convinced more than ever that Fredi Gonzalez will be the Braves' next manager.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs may have reached the "breaking point" with Carlos Zambrano, and says they're probably better off eating the $45MM left on his contract and trading him away.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier says that Dustin Pedroia's foot injury is going to test Boston's less than stellar infield depth.
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians will probably be able to make smaller deals like they did last year with Rafael Betancourt (to the Rockies) and Ryan Garko (to the Giants).
Wow, that is gonna be an ugly contract to eat for Big Z.
All of Hendry’s contracts are ugly. Bradley = Ugly. Z = Ugly. Fukudome = Ugly. Soriano = Incredibly ugly. Shouldn’t be a surprise.
Who would want Zambrano? Zambrano needs some help. Good luck with whoever gets him.
send him to the mariners to get straightened out, like they did with Bradley
Someone will take him for the league minimum, assuming the Cubs eat the rest to run him out of town.
Send him to the Cardinals.
In usual thinking, you wouldn’t send Zambrano to the same division. Note, that I am referencing ‘Usual’ thinking, and NOT Hendry thinking. I’ve been a Cub fan through thick and thin, and my thought is, there is something seriously wrong with the chemistry of this team. The expectations are certainly not unreasonable, but more of what to do with, and how much of the crap signings and contracts Hendry has made and it is now about to explode. This is the perfect opportunity for the Ricketts to blow it all up and start again…Put ‘their’ stamp on the team. I don’t know how much worse the Cubs can get, but I don’t see them with a record much better than the O’s, Marlins, or the Royals. The wheels are beginning to fall off and we haven’t even gotten to the All Star Break yet! I’m sure the new Ownership were waiting for the end of the season to make the changes, but I feel, get a head start now! Get rid of Hendry, let Sweet Lou Retire, Get Bob Brenly as the GM, or Manager, or better yet, get Valentine as Manager NOW and Brenly as GM, before Valentine signs with the Marlins! AJ Hinch will likely be available after the season, get HIM! In other words… Go ahead Ricketts Family… Blow it up! Make the moves Now! This season is toast anyway! Let’s get a head start on 2011!
I’ve been wondering why there isn’t some kind of article about different trade options for Big Z now, and if he’d be willing to waive that no-trade clause now. Obviously the Mets come to mind with Oliver Perez, which I still don’t know if I would pull the trigger on that deal if I’m the Mets, but what other ideas are out there? The Cubs already have a glut of the really bad contracts out there.
As being a Detroit Lions fan, I will applaud a blow it up situation for the Cubbies. Baseball is better when the Cubs are in contention.
How exactly does one root for the Sox and Lions….
Call me crazy but I root for the Patriots, Pats and Sox, go figure.
HA
HA
Were you dropped on your head as a child numerous times, or do you prefer to be a fan of a football franchise that will forever remain in hell? =P
Dave Duncan fixes mechanics and pitches, not personalities and mood disorders.
Dave Duncan fixes mechanics and pitches, not personalities and mood disorders.
Zambrano to Mariners for Bradley then both teams release the players? š
If Pedroia has to miss extended time, i wonder if the sox will go after Theriot to play second
I do not have a problem with Zambrano calling out guys for playing like they don’t care or are not trying. This team has looked flat and sloppy for a long time. The two problems I do have with Zambrano doing it is 1) He did it out in public view and not behind closed doors. 2) He is part of the problem. You need to be playing your ‘A’ game for a long period of time before you call others out, when you are part of the suck fest.
I agree overall, but despite his struggles (even defensively this year, it seems,) I don’t think anybody can classify Derrek Lee as not caring or not trying.
More likely, this was nothing more than another Zambrano temper tantrum where somebody doesn’t make a play behind him and he implodes. Cubs fans have seen it a hundred times before; that inability to move on and limit damage is his absolute biggest failing as a pitcher. The difference is now he’s apparently taken to publicly blaming the person who didn’t make the play like he had no part in giving up the next two base hits and home run.
The Cubs should do what they can to move him; it’s obvious to me that his time in Chicago is over. That said, not only is it a somewhat difficult contract to move, but he has a full no-trade clause that he has said in the past he was not willing to waive. Maybe that has changed, maybe it was all bluster — definitely it is yet another Zambrano complication.
True. Too tough to tell who cares unless you are another player/coach in that locker room. Zambrano is not the person who should be getting on Lee or anyone when he has been underperforming for a long time. That said, Lee has been horrible all year.
I bet his fat ass couldn’t make the play either. If anyone has played on a team, on any sport, then you know that what Z did was ridiculous.
First of all, blame yourself for not making better pitches. I’ve pitched and have played 1st before; they’re both not that easy. Plays happen so fast that they’re sometimes too hard to control. You don’t blame the guy for not making a hard play. Just as you wouldn’t see Lee or any other fielder yell at Zambrano for giving up hits or walking guys.
Zambrano is a total jerk. Not only that, he’s an idiot too because he’s just making enemies within his own team. Who the hell wants to play behind this guy? He thinks he’s so good and untouchable.
There should be a clause in every major league contract that revokes future pay for stupid classless acts like these. Zambrano and Bradley are disgraces to baseball. Being arrogant is one thing but this shitty behavior cannot be tolerated.
“Zambrano is a total jerk.”
Yeah, tough to say anything different. What gets me is this guy clearly does not listen to people. It is documented by Zambrano’s own admission he has been told so many times to not drink Red Bull before and during starts, to use his legs more and not just his arm and not to try to throw the ball through the catcher when he gets angry…his ball flattens out. He does not listen and continues to do what he wants. Just an example of someone who is in no position to tell anyone to dive or how to play. Especially since Zambrano is a big part of the Cubs problem in underperforming.
True. Too tough to tell who cares unless you are another player/coach in that locker room. Zambrano is not the person who should be getting on Lee or anyone when he has been underperforming for a long time. That said, Lee has been horrible all year.
I sure don’t understand the rush to anoint Fredi G as the next Atlanta manager. He seems pretty pedestrian at best overall, and actually bad at bullpen management.
I agree. Personally I don’t think Fredi is the guy the Braves should be going with. I am also hoping they pass on Terry Pendleton as well. Any thoughts on who could be a good long-term replacement?
Eddie Perez
Eddie Perez
I just don’t see how Z can get upset with Lee for not diving for a ball, and then he throws a meatball up there for a 3 run homer instead of getting out of it with only giving up 1 or 2 runs.
Hey Cubs fans, you want Oliver Perez?
I don’t think I’d want Z in return for Ollie though. Warthen can’t fix anyone.
I don’t know who didn’t see zambrano blowing up coming…. Opening day when the Braves were lighting him up he was already barking at his team. Dude looks like a pitbull, too bad he doesn’t pitch like one anymore
The number 1 pick used to switch between NL and AL? What is it with sports doing things in a completely arbitrary way?
Key world being used to. Chalk that up as one of the few things that the MLB front office did right in changing.
Dreifort.. š
No way something in Chicago is overpriced, underachieving, and has a bad attitude? One player a season pretty much seems to sum up the city without even trying.
I would love for the Tigers to jump in and get Z if they just want to unload him. Verlander, Scherzer, Zambrano would be a huge trio of power arms
Milton Bradley had a much easier contract to unload, had more value, and his blow up’s were much worse…and it still took an awful lot for the Cubs to let him go, I doubt they just flat out release him.
Milton Bradley had a much easier contract to unload, had more value, and his blow up’s were much worse…and it still took an awful lot for the Cubs to let him go, I doubt they just flat out release him.
Just wondering: AJ Burnett straight-up for Zambrano? It looks like both could use a new address.
Cubs would LEAP at that.
Considering how their need is most certainly in young talent, no, I doubt that. Then again, in order to get anything in return for Big Z, they’ll need to eat nearly all of his contract.
So the Yankees would make the cubs eat the last what 40mil on Burnett’s contract when he hasn’t been that good and make the Cubs pay all of Big Z’s money too? Not a very good strategy if you ask me.
Cubs would LEAP at that.
“on Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Brandon League is the Mariners’ second best trade chip behind Cliff Lee. The hard throwing righty reliever is owed approximately $590K the rest of the season, and is under team control for two more years.”
Umm.. that’s more of a reason for Seattle to KEEP League rather than trade him. He’s cheap, under control for 2 more years and is really turning it on latley.
“on Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Brandon League is the Mariners’ second best trade chip behind Cliff Lee. The hard throwing righty reliever is owed approximately $590K the rest of the season, and is under team control for two more years.”
Umm.. that’s more of a reason for Seattle to KEEP League rather than trade him. He’s cheap, under control for 2 more years and is really turning it on latley.
I think it is time for the Cubs to blow the team up starting with that piece of crap Zambrano. I dont think Derek Lee is the bees knees at first but that was an honest hit. And why in the hell was he throwing a ball right down the middle on an 0-2 count to a HOT homerun hitter who is in the middle of coming out of his funk? He should be mad at himself for that. I think the new owners should fire Hendry, make Pinella retire and annoint Sandberg the manager of the future. Then release Zambrano after unsuccessfully trying to trade him. Sell low on Fukodome and Ramirez and trade Soriano after the season ( Boston can you hear me calling). Keep Theriot and resign Derek Lee to a 2 year with option deal and call up Sam Fuld.
1B Derek Lee
2B Ryan Theriot
3B Josh Vitters
SS Starlin Castro
LF Sam Fuld
CF Marlon Byrd
RF Tyler Colvin
C Geovanny Soto
Ryan Dempster
Carlos Silva
Tom Gorzellany
Randy Wells
Andrew Cashner ( you dont at least try and make a 100mph pitcher a starter)
As a Sox fan I say throw the towel in Cubs and make a run at it for the future.
I think it is time for the Cubs to blow the team up starting with that piece of crap Zambrano. I dont think Derek Lee is the bees knees at first but that was an honest hit. And why in the hell was he throwing a ball right down the middle on an 0-2 count to a HOT homerun hitter who is in the middle of coming out of his funk? He should be mad at himself for that. I think the new owners should fire Hendry, make Pinella retire and annoint Sandberg the manager of the future. Then release Zambrano after unsuccessfully trying to trade him. Sell low on Fukodome and Ramirez and trade Soriano after the season ( Boston can you hear me calling). Keep Theriot and resign Derek Lee to a 2 year with option deal and call up Sam Fuld.
1B Derek Lee
2B Ryan Theriot
3B Josh Vitters
SS Starlin Castro
LF Sam Fuld
CF Marlon Byrd
RF Tyler Colvin
C Geovanny Soto
Ryan Dempster
Carlos Silva
Tom Gorzellany
Randy Wells
Andrew Cashner ( you dont at least try and make a 100mph pitcher a starter)
As a Sox fan I say throw the towel in Cubs and make a run at it for the future.
The Red Sox would also be in trouble when Nava crashes down to earth. Thankfully Theo is smart enough and has already begun exploring the OF market. To be honest, the Sox should feel lucky that the Rays’s (last i checked, could be different) near .220 average with the bases empty has finally come back to bite them in a rather unpleasant place.
Theo will need to pull off something unbelievable to salvage this injury mess. I don’t think he’s going to bother, though. I wouldn’t.
Man oh man
The Red Sox acquired an utility type player. But don’t look for much production out of him. Career .224 hitter, you’d think there would be a player in the their organization that could perform better.
Regards,
Brian
Theo should be checking on Brandon League, big time. I really liked him in Toronto.
Just curious.. and I may be out of the loop here, but what’s so great about Fredi Gonzalez? D:
Just curious.. and I may be out of the loop here, but what’s so great about Fredi Gonzalez? D: