Recent Trades and Talks..and Oh Yea...Manny

So finally we can bring up a topic and not hear about Brett Favre, but within the last 2 days so much has happened in the world of sports. The rumors are flying as the MLB trade deadline nears and the biggest name floating around, none other than Manny Ramirez.

Aside from the clown, the biggest and best move of this year has been the trade with the Braves and the Angels that occurred yesterday. The Braves traded superstar first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek. This was a steal for the Angels who surely will look to re sign Tex after the season. With this move it's more than clear that the Angels are serious about their World Series push. With K-Rod's season, Lackey almost no hitting the Red Sox last night and the addition of Tex to bolster the middle of that already tough lineup the Angels are the real deal Holyfield.

Now to the crux of the news this week, Manny Ramirez has once again opened his pie hole and dished out verbal sewage without processing what the words mean through his little noggin. Manny has come out and said he is willing to play for another team if the Red Sox don't want him or if they think they are better without him. Check this out, this is some of the majestic substance that comes out of this future hall of famer:

"I don't have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be."

At this point if I am John Henry I am looking to get this crazy guy out of my club house and preferably into the National League. The problem lies here though, there is almost no such thing as equal value for Ramirez unless you get a Pujols or A-Rod in return. A nice fit for Manny and a possible trade situation could be the Rockies. In Mile High Ramirez would surely add to his home run total but might have difficulty chasing down balls in that big outfield. In return the Rockies would send Matt Holiday to the Sox and possibly a minor league player. Thats the most logical trade that you can come up with but right now I think the Rockies are too close to contention that they are willing to give up Holiday.

Other teams interested in Manny have been the Mets, Philies and Diamondbacks. The chances that Manny actually gets dealt is slim to none for the simple fact that the Red Sox would literally be saying hey were are giving up on this season and any hope we have of another winning year. If they trade Ramirez it's clearly a sign that they do not care about another World Series and that this is the start of a rebuilding process.


Some trade rumors I am hearing right now,

- Jason Bay outfielder for the Pirates might be on the move to the Tampa Bay Rays.

- The Yankees might try and acquire the other Molina brother from the San Francisco Giants, Bengie Molina.

- The Red Sox and Astros are in serious talks to trade for Miguel Tejada.

- The Rockies most likely will not be trading reliever Brian Fuentes.

- The Giants are trying to trade for Adrian Beltre.

- The Mariners are saying they are willing to listen to offers for JJ Putz, but he wont come cheap.

- With recent struggles of newcomer Kosuke Fukodome, the Cubs are looking for an outfielder and have set their sights on Raul Ibanez.


Remember where you heard it first...lets see what happens.

A Question To Ponder

So on my way home from the Yankees game last night as they got pummeled by the Baltimore Orioles. I was listening to 1050 ESPN Radio and Brandon Tierney brought up an interesting question. If all of the GM's in baseball quit and you had the opportunity to pick a team to become the general manager with the exception of the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers. Your choice should be based on payroll, fan base, location, and baseball history, what team would you choose.

BT's co host Rob Parker said he would choose the Cincinnati Reds. Based on history, fans and he said he would like to bring back baseball to prominence like it was with the big red machine. BT said he would like to revitalize the nation's capitol and get baseball to boom there. Other places he mentioned would be good, Toronto and Seattle.

Baseball's big towns don't need much help, New York, Boston, these places will never die when it comes to baseball. I would love to GM the Chicago Cubs, the team hasn't won in forever although this year seems to be a possibility for them. The history with Chicago baseball is never ending whether its the east of the west side of Chicago, White Sox or Cubs. Another team which would be nice to rebuild would probably be the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are a team full of young talent just not enough money and resources to get over the hump. If it wasn't for the shared revenue teams like the Marlins, Royals, Rays and Pirates might die out.

So I pose the question to you now, what team would you like to bring to a championship and develop into a winner?

The Debate for Relief

In honor of Rich "Goose" Gossage being inducted into the baseball Hall Of Fame today, I decided to start looking at relievers and their place in history.

Gossage played for 9 teams over his 22 year career racking up 310 saves, 1502 strike outs with an ERA of 3.01. Gossage was the flame thrower with the huge mustache, that put fear into all those that stepped into the batters box.

But now we take a look at todays closers the likes of Hoffman, Rodriguez, Wagner and last but surely not least Rivera.

The man that strides to the rubber to the sounds of Hell's Bell's, Trevor Hoffman is currently the all time saves leader and most likely a lock for the Hall Of Fame once his time is up. Hoffman over 16 years has 544 saves and counting over 1000 strike outs and an ERA of 2.79. Hoffman who is 39 probably has a couple years left in him and just might break the 600 save plateau.

Billy Wagner has had his share of up's and down's but has established himself as a dominant closer. And although he doesn't throw 100 mph like he use to he can still dial it up to 95 and get his share of strike outs. Wagner currently plays for the Mets but did most of his damage with the Astros and 2 years with the Phillies. 342 saves, a 2.78 ERA and 1062 strike outs over 14 years give Wagner a chance at the Hall if he continues to put up decent numbers for about 5 more years.

The young stud known to the baseball world as K-Rod is having one of the greatest years a reliever can have. He is on pace to break the all time saves in a single season record currently held by Bobby Thigpen who recorded 57 saves in 1990. The closest someone has come to that number was Eric Gagne in 2003 when he saved 55 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Sunday July 27th K-Rod has 43 saves, just 4 off his career high and we have about 2 and a half months left of baseball. At this pace Rodriguez could have 60-70 saves by the time the playoffs role around for the Angels. Francisco Rodriguez has already recorded 4 consecutive years of 40+ saves and has the game that could one day land him in Cooperstown.

The greatest closer of all time has played his career in one place and under the bright lights in the Bronx. Mariano Rivera has done it all, from 50+ save years multiple times to getting key strikeouts and saves in the post season when the team needed him most. Arguably the most important piece of the Yankees dynasty that lasted from 1996-2000, Rivera has been labeled "Mr. Automatic" and all this with just 1 pitch. The most devastating 2 seam fastball you will never see coming and the winning desire unlike any other. In 14 years Rivera has notched 469 saves, 914 strike outs and an ERA of 2.30. In the post season Rivera has 93 strikeouts, an ERA of 0.77 and an incredible 34 saves. The final numbers for Rivera are projected to be really earn him the title of best of all time. In due time barring injury Rivera should surpass the all time saves record that will ultimately be set by Trevor Hoffman once he is done.

So to this we say congrats Goose, and hopefully in the next decade or so we see more relievers get into the hall. Just because your a closer doesn't mean you were less of a player and dont deserve to be mentioned wit the best of all time. Get Lee Smith who is 2nd on the all time saves list into Cooperstown.

The Rivalry Renewed

Tonight is the start of the best rivalry in sports history as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox tangle it up one more time in Bean Town.

Friday is the match up of fire ballers as staff ace Josh Beckett takes the hill for the dreaded Sox and young flame thrower Joba Chamberlain counters Beckett for the New York Yankees.

Usually we don't make a big deal about Yankee vs. Red Sox games in April, May and June but after the all star break these games matter just a bit more. Now the gap between the Rays, Sox and Yanks is just 3.0 games. So this weekends 3 game series is very, very important.

Another big story involving this series is the return of David Ortiz for the Sox who missed 42 games with a wrist injury. The Yankees are on a hot streak as they have not lost since the all star break, winning 6 in a row and 11 in a row at home going back to before the all star game. The 11 game win streak at home is the biggest one the Yankees have had since 1998.

So the two familiar foes go to battle one more time as this series could be a deciding factor late in the year for the AL East and or the Wild Card.

BREAKING NEWS: Sports Illustrated has reported that the New York Yankees have traded Ross Ohlendorf, right-handed pitcher George Kontos, left-handed pitcher Phil Coke and right fielder Jose Tabata to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Xavier Nady and hard throwing reliever Damaso Marte.

On a side note, the New York Yankees brass are discussing the option of bringing Barry Bonds to the Bronx.

Stupid Favre, Stupid Packers

So Brett Favre has that itch again but there is one problem, it seems like the Green Bay Packers have no desire to scratch it. There is a big problem when a quarterback who has been the face of your franchise draws zero interest in bringing said franchise guru back.

Favre changed his mind...shocker, every year Favre has played the I might retire card, but always comes back. This year he just did it while crying and at a press conference. Then he sent text messages and phone calls to try and get back on the team but the Packers want none of it. They are ready to move on with the Aaron Rodgers era and see where that takes them, good luck.

The Packers are ready to let Favre leave or be Aaron Rodgers BACKUP! yea right... The day Brett Favre becomes a back up is the day hell freezes over. So now its time to move on and let Favre go, but now the question is to who? Will you trade him and try to get something for #4 or release him and fear the worst...I'll explain.

Nightmare scenario : Monday Night Football, September 7th game one of the ESPN double header, Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, and trotting out of the Packers tunnel is #4 but in the purple jersey and the crowd cheering for a player who is not on the home towns team.

My favorite trade proposal would be this right now as it also makes a lot of sense, The New York Jets trade a 3rd round pick and Chad Pennington to the Packers for Brett Favre. Favre goes to the team that should have drafted him and gets to school Kellen Clemens. Pennington gets to go to Green Bay where he can be the back up and groom Aaron Rodgers.

What will happen, who knows but the Brett Favre saga is still rolling on and its catching steam.

The Best Skills Contest Ever: The Home Run Derby

In my opinion no slam dunk contest, or pro bowl in Hawaii can touch the Home Run Derby. The derby is excitement with every pitch and every stadium has something else to offer when the Derby is held there. In Baltimore we all remember when The Kid, Ken Griffey Jr. belted a shot off the warehouse in right field. Or who can forget Mark McGuire hitting monster shots over the green monster.

This year the big names are not in the Derby, there is no A-ROD, Ortiz, Ramirez. Ryan Howard, Griffey Jr. or Bonds etc. But this year the youngsters are out in full force and they all have some pop.

This year the Home Run Derby participants are as follows:

1. Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers - 20 Home Runs this season

2. Lance Berkman - Houston Astros - 22 Home Runs this season

3. Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies- 25 Home Runs this season

4. Dan Uggla - Florida Marlins - 23 Home Runs this season

5. Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers - 23 Home Runs this season

6. Grady Sizemore - Cleveland Indians - 22 Home Runs this season

7. Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays - 16 Home Runs this season

8. Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins - 14 Home Runs this season



Now for my analysis and predictions. The person who I think will win and who i will be rooting for is Josh Hamliton. This guy in a press conference was talking about hitting it out of Yankee Stadium which has never been done. Plus he hits like a mack truck and has a lot of raw power. Oh yea, and pitching to him is 71 year old high school coach Clay Counsell who taught him a lot about baseball. Hamilton said if he ever got to the MLB and went into the Home Run Derby he would let him throw BP to him. Oh one more thing, the last time Counsell was in Yankee Stadium October 8th 1956, to watch Don Larsen throw the only perfect game in World Series History.

Other possible winners are going to be Chase Utley for his quick swing and his pure power, Ryan Braun (who selected his agent to pitch to him) is probably the strongest guy next to Hamilton in the Derby and Lance Berkman is swinging a really hot bat and with the short porch in right field, we should see a lot of homers.

My dark horse / sleeper pick is the rookie, Evan Longoria. The kid is amazing but has not developed his power fully yet. But his swing is deadly and he has boat loads of potential.

So sit back and relax, and let the big bats swing and the baseballs fly. Can the cathedral known to the world as Yankee Stadium hold the baseball tonight? How many balls will fly over the short porch? Will Josh Hamilton do as he said and hit it out of Yankee Stadium over the white facade? Time will tell, tonight is the Home Run Derby!

All Star Starters and Snubs

It pains me to say this but the biggest all star game snub of all was Mike Mussina, pitcher for the New York Yankees. Mussina racked up 11 wins and only 6 losses, an ERA of 3.61.

For the NL the biggest all star snub has got to be Ryan Howard. Yes he has a terrible batting average but he is leading the league in home runs and RBI's. Howard is a beast, so what it took him a little while to get his hitting going. Howard deserves at least a reserve spot on the team.

As far as the starters go this is the lineups for the AL and NL squads.

1. Ichiro Suzuki
2. Derek Jeter
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Alex Rodriguez
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Milton Bradley
7. Kevin Youkliss
8. Joe Mauer
9 Dustin Pedrioa

And starting for the AL will be Cleveland's new ace, Cliff Lee.

And here are the starters for the NL

1. Hanley Ramirez
2. Chase Utley
3. Lance Berkman
4. Albert Pujols
5. Chipper Jones
6. Matt Holiday
7. Ryan Braun
8. Kosuke Fukodome
9. Geovany Soto

And the starting pitcher for the NL team will be Ben Sheets, who has been lights out this year. Of course my pick to start the game would have been Tim Lincecum but hey I'm not Clint Hurdle.

Well there you have it, more on the All Star Game to come.