A few baseball notes
From the "Rich Get Richer" Dept:
It appears that the Red Sox are on the verge of signing 22-year-old Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, who reportedly has rejected offers from the Rangers, Mariners and Braves. That only leaves the Red Sox among the teams that aggressively pursued him.
Tazawa asked Japan's professional teams not to select him in this month's amateur draft because he wanted to pitch in the U.S. He made a name for himself in the corporate leagues, leading Nippon Oil to the intercity tournament championship.
I'm not sure how that translates to major league success, but it looks like the Red Sox are going to find out.
I had a reader ask about the possibility of the Orioles signing Jamie Moyer. Just to confirm my earlier hunch, the Phillies reportedly are prepared to offer him arbitration if they can't reach agreement on a contract extension. But they're willing to let Pat Burrell walk, if he interests you.
Since I'm always looking for side work to occupy the few idle hours that slow me down each day, I figured that I'd get involved with baseball's version of match.com. But I could use your help.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported over the weekend that the Indians' primary focus has shifted from signing a free-agent middle infielder (Orlando Hudson or Rafael Furcal) to finding a closer. The Orioles have a few pitchers with that title on their resumes. Could there be a match?
And the Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are seeking a veteran catcher who enjoys outdoor activities and long walks in rain delays, and isn't afraid of commitment. For now, Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles will compete for the job in spring training, but general manager Ed Wade is "likely" to sign somebody with more experience.
Oh sure, he could chase after Paul Bako, Paul Lo Duca, Toby Hall or Gregg Zaun, but why bother when Ramon Hernandez is available? And he's quite a catch.
Maybe he could double with Miguel Tejada.
Before the Indians ENGAGE some other closer, they should RING up the O's and PROPOSE HOOKING UP with Sherril. on early DATES, especially in short OUTINGS, he has been known to deliver the high hard one.
My-Gal Tejada, meanwhile, would probably LOVE to be re-UNITED with Hernandez. The pheRAMONes would be flying. I am sure there would B-12 red roses waiting for his new arrival. Certainly Miguel would have no worries about being HUSTLED. And you know what they say about emotional reunions - Tejada the betta.
They really SHOULD do a baseballmatch.com!! How great would it be to cut out the guess work and meet someone who suffers from the same addiction? Someone who understands that from April-September/October I'm only available for dinner & a movie when the Birds are out of town...and even then I'm better company when I can watch the game on TV. Or someone who realizes it is completely unforgivable to wear a Yankees cap, even if it does color coordinate with the outfit he's wearing.
I really don't know much about what Cleveland has to offer. Seeing as how they are/were looking for a middle infielder I guess we can rule that option out as a return in a trade. Unless they are looking to part with Sizemore (I know, just wishful thinking) I think we're set in the outfield. What do they have...starting pitching? And the Astros are more than welcome to court Ramon Hernandez...so long as they don't mind that he has a tendency to wander away from home when you need him there the most.
Would you be willing to swap Ramon for Miguel if Houston threw back a few bucks towards Miggy's salary? I know Miggy has slipped alot, and aged three years in the one year he was gone, but he is better than anyone we have now. And maybe resting him late in games with a great field no hit ss could work.
I guess there might be an underlying issue of team chemistry but us outsiders would not know what you know about that.
Trading a surplus for a need.
Roch,
You probably didn't hear the interview with Luke Scott on MLB's Hot Stove on XM this morning. He was commenting on Plexico shooting himself, and described his own training and his gun philosophy in detail. He said that it is a case of an irresponsible individual, saying that "If you have to go in to a place of entertainment, if you have to carry a gun its not worth it to be there." and that its illegal to bring a gun into a place that sells alcohol. Looks like Burress is going to have a number of charges to deal with, being that Burress is licensed in Florida, but not New York.
On the baseball side of things, Luke noted that while 10-15% of players carry guns with a concealed weapons permit, 75-80% of players carry guns without a permit, or have unregistered guns at home or in their cars. That would lead us to believe about 85-95% of MLB players are carrying guns. That's an astonishing number to me, but I guess most of us have seen The Fan.
Scott also wouldn't speculate on any names that might he headed to Baltimore. He ended the interview by revealing some of his off season routines, such as taking 3 weeks after the season to detox, stay off his feet, and fast - eating dried oatmeal and fruit and vegetable drinks. He goes to Oklahoma in January to work out with his personal trainer. He says he rebuilds from the ground up so that he'll come to spring training "bigger, stronger, and faster" than the he was at the end of the previous season.
Good stuff on Hot Stove - Jim Duquette does a great job and offers great insight on his time spent with the Orioles.
As long as you are match making, do the Indians have a SS that is almost ready for Sherrill? The Angels have Woods if they want to get Sherrill to replace K-Rod but unlikely.
How about Ramon for Miggy? He's supposedly on the block. One bad contract for another but filling a gap @ SS. Just kidding.
Any news on the potential Cubs trade getting bigger than just Olson for Pie?
I would feel much better about the Pie for Olson trade if it were expended to include Marquis and about 3 M for Luke Scott.
That would allow us to avoid a surplus in the OF and add a pitcher in his walk year (for whatever reason players seem to play better in their last contract year), giving us an open rotation spot next year for one of the prospects.
Hernandez may not be good fit for Houston.
The Astros have payroll issues, and taking on the $8M+ buffett tab rung up by Hernandez seems a stretch (...of the belly).
Unless of cource Angelos is willing to pick up the tab.
Then again, that may not be necessary! Ed Wade was never shy to take on a ridiculous contract to a declining player (e.g. Tejada).
Nevermind--this is a great idea!
WOW , we are really talking about some big names coming to the pathetic O's in the off season,,,,,,,,,,,,Peter the Great must be proud,,,,,,,,,,
If this is all we have to talk about we are pathetic as well for following this team..........and I include myself , as I keep hoping against hope this poor excuse for a team actually becomes a contender , it is sad what Peter the Great has done to the great fans of Baltimore.
Go Ravens , a quality organization that contends............
Anyone think that Mike Fontenot could play SS? If so, the O's should try to pick him up instead of Pie for Olson. Just a thought - he doesn't have much ML experience at SS, but wonder how he would handle a switch.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fontemi01.shtml
Roch-
Good info, and thanks for graciously responding to my post bashing you for not attributing to The Sun. Has there ever been any talk of taking draft picks away from teams that throw big money at international amateurs? It seems really unfair that rich clubs can instantly patch any holes they have in the minors like this (not that the sox dont have young pitching) while the poorer clubs have to rely on the draft and their own development. Just when the orioles have a decided edge on the sox in something- minor league pitching- the sox throw money around and instantly catch up. Seems wrong.
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I've heard the same argument about taking away draft picks as compensation, just not from the people who make those decisions. Perhaps the Red Sox were aided by having Dice-K and Okajima as recruitors (though the Mariners had a similar advantage). - Roch
Spy - isnt it bad enough that this site turns into TMZ discussing every silly rumor without your complaining that we talk too much about Ashley Simpson instead of Jessica Simpson or the wrong Hilton sister? lol You can talk about any name you want coming here. You can talk about trading Cabrera for Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb and then listen to posters compalin about crowding the outfield. You can talk ceaselessly about bringing in Walter Johnson and then whether he or Jeremy Guthrie should be the number one. There are plenty of real negatives to be upset about. Somehow I never thought to complain about the quality of players rumored to be coming here in trades that will never happen. I guess I am not much of a fan.
Roch,
That's it, you did it...mentioned Burrell as a possible FA. You're here by banned from you own blog.
Roch suggesting Burrell...the next thing you know beer won't come in 12 oz. bottles anymore...oh wait Stella only comes 11.2 oz. now.
What's this world coming to?
Roch,
I did read in a Boston paper that Taz's idol is Dice-K, and that's really the main reason he wanted to go to Boston. They said he'll go to the minors, even w/ that outlay of cash.
Luckyhorseshoe====I would love to converse with you and others but Roch is censoring me..........
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How am I censoring you? I've approved every comment - unless somebody else at MASN is deleting them. I only kill the spam and take out the profanities. - Roch
we talked about this allllllllllllll day at work (slow day in the off season...other than mike hampton going back to steal money from the 'stros.)
the PD is my least fave sports source because they keep expecting the tribe to sign "the next omar" and as a current clevelander... Omar is to Cleveland, as Cal is to Baltimore. simple analogies.
apparently, clevelanders do not understand aging = declining effectiveness. (really? we need a SS to hit .178? hell, we can pick up the entire Orioles SS Catch'n'Release Program of 2008 for what it would cost to get...anyone else and get the same results. Even the city's BELOVED omar...whom I loathe.)
the tribe only needs a year-long rental as a closer. we've got jensen lewis, jeff stevens (AAA, yes he tows cars), and "the other" betancourt who can do the job.
however, if it brings b-rob to cleveland, i will make damn good use of my season tickets. for once.
and hells-to-the-yeah... baseball match.com? only there would i be able to find someone who understands my fundemental rule of dating: NEVER date within your division. EVER.
duh.
Roch====my last two entries didn't make it to your blog , nothing profane or ultra negative and no personal attacks,,,,,,,,I realize I do give a different slant from time to time but it is only to create interest and controversy on the site.........don't know why they wouldn't have made it from my end , my only guess is MASN censored them as they did mention Peter the Great..........