MLB news and notes: An in depth 2009 trade deadline dissection and review

With the looming July 31st trade deadline less than a day away, it's seems only fitting that we recap the biggest moves that have transpired so far this season. In just a few weeks a handful of trades have drastically altered the landscape of the league. Postseason contenders tinkered in an attempt to plug holes and the usual perennial cellar dwellers once again frivolously unloaded anything with talent and or salary in an alleged attempt to become more viable in the future. With that said, here is a breakdown of each trade that has taken place so far leading up to the 2009 trade deadline.

Phillies and Indians- Acquired pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson from the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco.

After weeks of heated negotiations the Phillies finally gave up on trying to pry Roy Halladay from Toronto, but Cliff Lee is no doubt an amazing consolation prize that came at a much more affordable price. The former Cy Young winner leaves the team a year after the Indians were forced to deal Sabathia and it officially ends an era of Indian baseball that looked so promising only a few seasons ago. The once acclaimed trio of Sabathia, Lee and Carmona has disappeared into the wind, and it must be an incredibly sad for Tribe fans who I’m sure must be heartbroken and are wondering what could have been. I think Angels Centerfielder Torii Hunter put it best when he said this, "Man, the Phillies won the World Series last year with one great starter Cole Hamels] . . . Now they have two. They're going to be tough." Indeed they are Torri, indeed they are. The Dodgers were my early favorites to win it all and the rest of the league knew it too, as the Phillies and Cardinals both made big splashes in an attempt to try and even the playing field. Spot on to both teams for sacking up and making the needed moves.

Prospect breakdown

Carlos Carrasco- 2009 - #2 ranked for PHI. Carrasco has above average stuff (8 K’s/9) but has had issues with control throughout his time in the minors (3.6 BB’s/9). A career 4.14 era and 1.32 whip in the minors are not that impressive, and with a 5.18 era this year in AAA, Carrasco was certainly expendable. I don’t see much future for Carrasco in the big’s and Philly was lucky to be able to cash him in for something useful.

Jason Knapp- 2009 - #10 ranked for PHI. Knapp was the 71st overall player taken in 2008, and is currently in A ball. He has a lot to learn, and is definitely an unproven commodity. Knapp is the epitome of the word prospect. Knapp has solid stuff (11.6 K’s/9), (6.6 H/9) but is another guy that has at times struggled to find the strike zone (4 BB/9). As I said earlier when I discussed whether the Dodgers should make a run at Hallady, I have no problem shipping out a young A baller in a trade for an established player. Knapp looks to have potential, but he’s most certainly a project.

Jason Donald-2009 - #4 ranked for PHI. Donald was the 97th overall pick in 2006 and at 24 is now struggling at AAA where he is hitting a paltry .236. He does have above average power, but the rest of his game has many flaws. His contact and eye are below average and he’s not particularly quick. Again the prognosis for Donald doesn’t look to be very promising, and he was more than expendable.

Lou Marson- 2009 - #3 ranked for PHI. Marson was the 122nd overall player taken in 2004 and at 23 he has finally developed enough to be considered close to MLB ready. With that said he’s another fringe prospect in my opinion. Marson has a mere career .276 average, .760 ops and he has never hit more than 7 hr’s in any season in the minors. Those numbers don’t do much for me and I project Marson to be a career backup if he can even stick in the big leagues. Considering position scarcity and the relative lack of solid catchers in the big leagues, maybe I am being too critical, but I just don’t see anything about his game that I am particularly thrilled with. He does have an above average eye, but he can only utilize his patience if he can make contact, and that remains to be proven.

Grades- The only player I like in the deal is Knapp and he is years away from contributing. I’m going to go out and say it now, this was a terrible trade for Mark Shapiro and I honestly don’t understand how this was the best offer he received, especially considering how stingy the Jay’s have been with Halladay and the relative lack of good sp’s available.

Indians- D

Phillies- A+

Mariners and Pirates- Acquired first baseman Jeff Clement, shortstop Ronny Cedeno and pitchers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock from the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell.

The Pirates continued to unload and have officially entered the running for the Bryce Harper sweepstakes. After years of trying to compete and failing miserably, they have waived the white flag and given up. As unpopular as the moves have been, I actually respect the fact that they have decided to rebuild and have chosen a direction for the franchise. Win big or give up and tank, it’s the American way! The Mariners pick up a decent hitting SS from my home city, Thousand Oaks and a reclamation project in Snell who has proven so far to be nothing more than a quadruple A spct. However I do like the pickup of Snell and think he has a chance to turn it around on a new club and finally fulfill his once promising potential. The kid did strike out 13 batters in a row at AAA. How could he not translate that K potential in the big show.

Prospect breakdown

Jeff Clement- 2008 - #1 ranked for SEA. Clement is a former 1st rd pick who was once considered to be one of the best catching prospects in baseball but his progress has been limited due to injuries, and he has been relegated to playing 1B. He has solid power and a well disciplined eye, but he has yet to show that he can hit for contact in the big’s. Even with the injuries and unproven contact, he has the potential to be a solid MLB player for many years and at 25 he is primed to show his stuff right now.

Ronny Cedeno- 2006 - #3 ranked for CHC. He was once a highly regarded prospect but he’s never been able to live up to the hype. He’s a career .238, .277, .616 guy in 5 plus years in the bigs. Enough said, he’s got a few more minutes of spotlight left and then he will most likely fade into the distance and be forgotten.

Aaron Pribanic- unrated. He’s 22, and only has one year of college ball under his belt. He’s 6-4, 200 and at least has the physical makeup to succeed. He is a relative unknown, but he is still young and has potential.

Brett Lorin- unrated. Lorin was the 162nd overall pick in 2008. He has solid stuff and although he has difficulty with his control I feel as though he will grow out of this once he matures as a pitcher. Consider him a younger Carrasco, with more upside.

Nathan Adcock- unrated. Nathan was the 141st selection in 2006 and he is still toiling in high A ball. He has shown above average stuff, but the control is an issue for him. He’s 21 so he still has some more life in him, but he’s been in the system for 5 years and he has yet to reach AA. Seems pretty expendable to me!

Grades- I think Snell will turn it around, and Wilson is a solid blue collar SS.

Mariners- B

Pirates- B

Giants and Pirates- Acquired infielder Freddy Sanchez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Tim Alderson.

The Giants have been struggling to score runs all year and balked at the chance to sign any FA’s last off-season. They could have signed a guy like Bobby Abreu for 4 million dollars and given up no prospects, but instead they went out and traded one of their best prospects for an over paid middle infielder. With that said, if they had any shot at competing they needed to pick up a bat and at least they attempted to improve their anemic offense, which is a commendable feat for the Giants. The question remains, was adding the former batting champ enough to overtake the Dodgers, or even take the wildcard? Nope, I still like the Cardinals to win the Central and the Braves to end up taking the WC. So in essence I feel the Giants dealt away a stud for a chance at second place in the NL West. Well done gentleman, Sabean you never cease to amaze me.

Prospect breakdown

Tim Alderson- 2009 - #4 ranked for SF. Tim was the 22nd overall pick in 2007. The 20 year old Alderson has steadily progressed and is currently in AA. Although Tim is only the 4th highest prospect in the Giants organization, he is highly regarded and has star written all over him. Baring any major injuries this kid has the upside to be a legit stud in the league. He has superb stuff, control and he understands the art of pitching.

Grades- A hell of a lot to trade for a light hitting 2b. Couldn't the Giants package Alderson for Lee, Halladay, or Holliday? He is a top notch prospect and it seems odd to me that Giants didn't go after a more productive player if they were willing to part with Alderson. I realize the Giants have a plethora of pitching, but really? Sanchez has a career .756 OPS, which is terrible!

Giants- C-

Pirates- A-

Cardinals and A’s- Acquired outfielder Matt Holliday and cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Brett Wallace, pitcher Clay Mortensen and outfielder Shane Peterson.

The Cardinals already had a playoff contending team in my opinion and with the addition of Holliday they essentially became a lock to win the Central. Holliday, Ludwick, Ankiel and Rasmus roaming the outfield is just plain nasty. I love the vibe I get from this team and I feel like they are a dark horse to win it all. Pujols, Holliday, Carpenter and Wainwright form a solid nucleus. On the other hand you have got to give the wizard Billy Beane his due credit. He essentially flipped Carlos Gonzalez, Gallagher and company for a half season Holliday rental and when it didn’t work out for the A’s he was able to flip Holliday for Wallace. He tried to put together a winner and if it wasn’t for the terrible injuries to his young sp’s, things might have gone differently, but they didn’t and he was still able to save grace.

Prospect breakdown

Brett Wallace-2009 - #2 ranked for STL. Brett has good contact, exceptional power and plate discipline. He is a bit of a defensive liability but he’s got a big enough stick to overlook his fielding inefficiencies. He has been successful at every level, and will most likely be a solid contributor at the big league level very soon. Brett hit .410, and .423 while at ASU and has .301 average during his two seasons in the minors.

Clay Mortensen-2009 - #6 ranked for STL. Clay has posted a 4.28 era in three minor league seasons. Clay has above average stuff, but needs to work on the rest of his game. I don’t expect much from him, but Billy must have seen something to include him in a deal.

Shane Peterson- unrated. Shane has a solid eye and is the prototypical Athletic. Shane is not particularly athletic nor is he the best power hitter, but he does have some upside. Shane hit .390 while playing at Long Beach and has a .291 average in two minor league seasons.

Grades- The Cardinals are giving up on Wallace right as he was about to contribute, but you can’t complain too much because they finally landed the lineup protection for Pujols that they have so desperately needed for years. A good deal for both parties, but a slight edge to the Cardinals.

Cardinals- A-

A‘s- B

By: Morgan Spokny, Bottom Line Sports Show

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Rumors: Will Roy Halladay Get Traded?

The highly anticipated Roy Hallday and for that matter Toronto Blue Jay’s sweepstakes has so far been very interesting, with rampant rumors and speculation a bound, but nothing substantial has happened in Toronto just quite yet. My gut instinct is that J.P. Ricciardi finally realizes that while the organization has been injected with talent, his current roster just isn’t going to ever leap frog the Yankees, Red Sox’s or the Rays in the East, and being a 4th place team this year and every year after for the next decade isn’t going to get him anywhere. He realizes that it is only going to hurt his draft picks, leaving the team in a state of mediocre purgatory. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and if the team was in almost any other division in the league they could have easily been to the playoffs the last 5 years. But that isn’t the case, and the clock is ticking on Halladay’s playing days in Canada. The time is now to cash in on Halladay‘s trade value by restocking the farm system, completely rebuilding and starting over. Every day that he remains a Blue Jay, his trade value diminishes. The best offer the Blue Jays have found so far this year has come from the Phillies, who have been more than generous by offering their young stud Kyle Drabek, who is almost ready for the big leagues. Ricciardi is playing hard ball, waiting to see if anyone else will up the ante, but I don’t believe anyone will and the Phillies will inevitably force his hand, landing Halladay in Philly, and instantly solidifying the Phillies a spot in the NLCS alongside the Dodgers.

I realize that things need to change and so does J.P. Ricciardi. The problem for the Blue Jays, and the reason he has yet to be traded is that teams are not willing to move anything close to Halladay’s perceived value in Toronto. Word on the street is that the Blue Jays are asking for a kings ransom. For example, initial proposals with the Yankees and Dodgers include requests for franchise players like Phillip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Matt Kemp, and Johnathan Broxton. Everyone has a different take on whether it would be a beneficial move. There are guys like Steve Phillips who think it would be a good idea for nearly every team to make the move. Logic like his sure helps to explain how during his tenure he ruined the Mets by stacking up on aging and expensive vets. Despite taking them to subway series in 2000, the Mets were in complete shambles after he left, and they still have never really developed any good young pitching since that point. Why would either team trade one of these players, or even think about packaging any of these players for a year and a half rental? I’m sorry, I love Halladay and he is a legit ace that can do a lot of great things for a team, but he is not worth a single one of those players. Let’s all try to remember that this is the same guy who has had been plagued by a bunch of small arm injuries throughout his career, and has logged an insane amount of innings along the way. I would completely change my position on this matter if he were signed long term, but again that is not the case, and until then I’d rather take my shot with an unproven commodity like a Kershaw, Hughes, Chamberlain, or Billingsley and ride the perpetual up’s and down’s associated with young pitching, than trade the world for a one and a half year rental who will end up walking out on us, leaving us empty handed with only a compensation sandwich pick to show for our once franchise player. The Blue Jay’s are hoping to get lucky, have a team cave in to their requests, hit the jackpot on a few draft picks, instantly turning the franchise around, saving baseball in Canada. Unfortunately in my opinion that is merely just wishful thinking, but more power to them if they can find a team that will yield to their requests and cough up the young proven players they desire.

Taking into consideration the variables of the deal, I would be very cautious to ship out any young, developed, or proven MLB players. I live in L.A. and follow the Dodgers and Mannywood everyday and I am honestly praying that we don’t make the mistake of succumbing to the pressure of adding Roy’s big name, if it will cost us Clayton, Billingsley, Kemp or even our closer Broxton. If the Jays are asking for any of the home grown talent to be included, I’d have to respectfully decline any deal.

A guy like Kershaw is on the up, and has the physical makeup to dominate for years. He is an absolute beast, with an insane curveball. He has really come into his own the last few months, just check out his last 10 or so starts and his wicked k/9 innings. He’s never had any injuries, not to mention he is a lefty, which is something all teams covet. Giving up a cheap stud like Kershaw who has yet to even hit arbitration is just too much even in a straight up swap. In my opinion trading any currently established core players such as Kershaw, Billinglsey, Kemp, or Broxton whom all have the potential to be just as good, if not better than Halladay just doesn’t make any financial or baseball sense for the Dodgers, or anyone for that matter

By: Morgan Spokny

Senior Editor, Bottom Line Sports Show

MLB News and Notes from around the league

1. ” If the cubs don’t turn it around in the second half of the season, could Lou Piniella be in trouble?”

Sweet Lou is absolutely on the hot seat. I personally don’t think coaches make all that much difference in terms of win and losses but unfortunately someone has got to become the scapegoat for the cubs lackluster year. The cubs posted the best record in the league last year and then subsequently got bounced in the 1st rd. Piniella is considered an elite manager despite never winning a championship, but the excuse has always been that he has been stuck with mediocre teams (Seattle and Tampa Bay). He has always been considered a baseball man, but personally I don’t think his track record and reputation will save him if the team continues to stay around the .500 mark.

Is it Pinellas fault that the teams best hitter entering the year and leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano is hitting .231, has a .294 OBP, a team leading 80 strikeouts and only 7 stolen bases. Is Soriano’s poor performance a question of motivation, or have his skills just started to deteriorate? I personally feel that he has started to slow down physically and has lost a few steps. Soriano has always been a free swinger with a bad eye at the plate. Do I think he’s a .231 hitter? No, but I think he’s closer to a .250- .260 average now at this point in his career.However it’s not just Soriano who has been slumping this season. Milton Bradley has been another huge disappointment in limited at bats posting a .236 average, and this may be attributed to a lack of motivation and a strained relationship with Piniella, but that comes with the territory when you sign Milton Bradley. Aramis Ramirez has played solid ball when he has been healthy, but has been plagued with injuries for the majority of the season. which has really left them with a gaping hole at 3b. Geovany Soto has completely disappeared and honestly I wasn’t that high on him even last year when his stock was really high as a rookie. He had a huge first half last year but then totally disappeared in the 2nd half, and the bad production hasn’t changed this year. It sure looks like the pitchers have figured him out and he hasn’t made the necessary adjustments. In terms of pitching, Pinella has also been hurt by inconsistency and injuries. When Harden pitches he has the lowest era of any sp in the game the last few years, but he doesn’t stay healthy! Bringing in Harden this year was a risky move that could potentially pay big dividends, but unfortunately for Lou he started on fire but has seen his era explode to 5.47. Harden’s surge in era sure seems like a red flag to me and if Harden ends up on the DL for a prolonged period this year, you can count the cubs out of September, and Lou will be fired and blamed for the teams demise.

2.” With Manny back in the lineup and his replacement Juan Pierre sitting on the bench after playing on fire in his absence, could this cause problems in the clubhouse?”

Well have to see what transpires in the coming weeks, but I’d have to say that it wont hurt the clubhouse. Manny is publicly perceived to be well liked by his teammates and I am sure they will all welcome him back. In terms of chemistry I don’t think the addition of Manny and subtraction of either Pierre or Either will negatively affect the team. Pierre is a quality ballplayer who adds a different dimension to the club and I would like to see him get more playing time this year. Pierre is a career .301 hitter, with 4 seasons of 200 + hits under his belt. He’s not a bum, and its too bad he got buried on the bench last year behind the younger prospects Ethier and Kemp. His speed and ability to get on base and not strike out probably makes him more valuable to the dodgers than Ethier, but that is no knock on Ethier whose swing reminds me a lot of Bernie Williams. There is a delicate balance between having too much talent and having guys get upset about playing time and roles and having too little talent. Personally I believe that the Dodgers have a really solid and complete team and are the team to beat in the NL this year.

3. ” Is Albert Pujols the best hitter in baseball in the past decade?”

It’s not a popular choice but if I had to pick one guy, I’d go with Bonds. He is the best hitter I have ever seen play the game. He’s the only guy I have watched where I actually expected a HR every AB. If you pitched to him, he jacked it, and if you didn’t pitch to him, he would take the walk. You couldn’t beat him with any pitch and he had no holes in his plate coverage. Managers actually thought it was a good idea to walk the bases loaded rather than pitch to him. Bonds was so well respected that he had 120 IBBS in one year, and led MLB 12 years during his career in IBB. Bonds resume features 14 years where he posted a 1.000 OPS or higher and 5 years where he posted a 1.100 ops or higher, and of course his pinnacle year where he sported a hefty 1.421 ops. A 7 time MVP, Bonds was a complete ballplayer that excelled in every facet of the game. He had power but also understood the strike zone. He took walks, didn’t k, and of course had the speed and D to compliment his bat.

5.” Is their a Middle relief pitcher out there to help the yanks bullpen?”

Sure. Middle relievers are a dime a dozen and the Yankees shouldn’t have any problem finding another pen arm if they really need it but I’d only make a move if it was a really great deal that didn’t cost too much. A lot of news has been made the last few years of the Yankees rocky pen, but I actually feel like this year they have the pieces internally to patch together a pretty decent pen. After Mariano Rivera there are most certainly question marks, but David Robertson has been coming on lately and is posting an impressive 31 k’s in 21 innings so far this season after being promoted from AAA where he was dominating. He has filthy stuff and I think we can pencil him in as an fixture in the pen. Alfredo Aceves has less stuff but he’s got great control and while he probably wont continue to post a 2.49 era, I wouldn’t be surprised if he continues to find success in the Yankee pen and stays close to the 3 era mark. Of course if those guys begin to falter there are always Ian Kennedy and Phillip Hughes who can work into the pen or try their luck again in the starting rotation. While the team needs to work on defining roles for everyone, at least this year there are ample options.

6. Can Texas hold on to the division lead?”

Absolutely they have a chance to win the division. if they can get Hamilton back and hitting up to his potential they have a great shot at stealing the West! I’ve been on the Rangers bandwagon all year and definitely think they have the talent to win the division. Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington have done a great job leading this organization and I feel like they are a studly pitcher away from being a WS contender. As with every year for the last decade the only thing that can hold this team back is the pitching. However, this year they have more talent to work with and it doesn’t hurt that the Angels have been totally decimated by injuries and the death of their best sp prospect Nick Adenhart. This is a guy with huge value who they could have bundled for a guy like Miguel Cabrera a few years ago. It was the Angels division to win, but things have not gone the way they wanted.The Ranger’s pitching has been a pleasant surprise so far this year. Kevin Millwood is finally pitching up to his potential after a few sub par years where he flirted with a 5 era. It was really puzzling why all of the sudden he became a stiff but it looks like he has figured things out and has found his form of old. The park might not help, but he shouldn’t be sitting above a 5 era like he was in 07 and 08. He’s leading the big leagues in innings pitched and they will need him to keep up the work if they are to win the division. After Millwood, the staff is still a patchwork quilt of projects. Padilla, Harrison, Feldman and Holland will obviously have to pitch well for this team to have any chances but at least they have some upside and have shown glimpses of promise. Not too mention that they could possibly bring up a young stud pitcher like Neftali Feliz in September who can give the team a needed boost. The lineup is in my opinion the best in the league and if Hamilton can bounce back from his groin injury it will become even far more potent. However, injuries and health are becoming a concern for Hamilton and if he can’t make it stick this year, you can count out the Rangers.

By: Morgan Spokny

The Bottom Line Sports Show Recap July 14th

Tuesday night was yet another great show on the Bottom Line jammed packed with excitement. We had two superb and very insightful interviews with NBA legend Juwan Howard and NFL star Roman Oben. Although he was scheduled to join us we didn’t have a chance to speak with Floyd Mayweather due to his hectic schedule in preparation for his highly publicized fight with Manny Pacquiao, but we will hopefully be having him on the show in the very immediate future. We were visited by baseball gurus Jack Davis and Morgan Spokny who discussed major league baseball mid-season studs, duds and just plain whack. With that said, here’s a quick recap of what you may have missed if you didn’t have a chance to listen live.

Our first guest on the show was none other than former Michigan hoops star, and notorious member of the Fab 5, Juwan Howard. Juwan quickly let us know what moves surprised him so far this off-season and it should come as no surprise that Shaq and the Nets were at the top of his list. Juwan was gracious enough to let us inside his head for a few minutes as he touched on his fondest memories while at Michigan and also expanded in detail how the Fab 5 came to fruition. Juwan was very candid elaborating on his mentors growing up and who kept him grounded, teaching him the value of hard work and the dedication that it takes to accomplish the goals that he had set for himself. Mr. Howard makes a point to mention that throughout the journeys of his life he has gained an exceptional amount of wisdom and he loves to pass along these lessons to the younger generation.

Our second guest on the show was recently retired Renaissance man, offensive tackle Roman Oben. Roman was an intricate piece for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who won super bowl XXXVII. Mr. Oben was an absolutely wonderful interview that really gave us a glimpse into the life of a man that is involved in more than just on field activities. Roman touched on his work and contributions with the NFLPA, and The Corporate Playbook, which he helped create and author. It was produced to help athletes make the transition into the workplace after their playing careers have come to a conclusion. Roman additionally discussed the various football camps he runs that are designed to introduce the game and fundamentals to children whose parents are not able to afford the expensive instruction and gear that is necessary to succeed on the field. He states that the key for success for any offensive linemen in the NFL is to take care of their body in the off-season, “It has to be a 12 month job; it can’t just be a July to January job”. Roman drops a jewel of wisdom when he quotes coach John Gruden, who used to always tell him that, “Every year your either going to get better or worse, you’re never going to stay the same.”

By:Morgan Spokny

Studs, Duds and just plain whack; All-star edition

The 2009 All-Star game has come and gone and with that said it seems like an appopriate time to take a look back at the first half of the season at who has been a stud, who has been a dud and who has been just plain whack.

1."Which teams are Studs?"

The Red Sox and Dodgers are without question, unanimously the two best teams in baseball and in my opinion the only studs in the league. Each club shares in common, strong pitching, balanced lineups and a great defense. Neither organization has any glaring holes and both organizations have a superb bench and minor league system that can fill a hole if an injury does occur in the second half. Boston has a stellar staff led by Josh Beckett and Jon Lester and a first-rate supporting cast of veterans who have each won a ring (Brad Penny, John Smoltz, and Tim Wakefield). Beckett and Lester have been dealing recently, particularly Jon Lester who started the year slow due to some issues with the long ball, but hasn’t given up more than 3 earned runs in his last 8 games, lowering his era to 3.87 and improving on an already impressive K/BB ratio which now sits at 131/35. Boston is currently holding a 3 game lead over the Yankees and a 6.5 game lead in front the Devil Rays. What makes this year even more impressive is that their reign atop the AL East has transpired even though two of the franchises best players going into the season have had little success. “Big Papi”, David Ortiz has struggled in a season long slump and star Japanese import “Dice K” has battled lingering injuries and control issues. “Papi” has recently showed signs of his power returning entering the all-star game on a high note with 12 hrs, but Dice K has continued to have zero impact in Boston so far this season. The Dodgers also have a very potent 1-2 in their staff. Billingsley and Kershaw are young, hard throwers with wicked stuff and unlimited potential. Wolf, Kuroda and whoever happens to be the 5th flavor of the month (Eric Milton, James McDonald, Jeff Weaver, and maybe even Jason Schmidt in the second half) have surprisingly done a great job holding down the fort. Juan Pierre has offered a solid and unexpected contribution, filling the void left when Manny was suspended for women’s fertility drugs. The Dodgers will continue to run away with the West in the second half.


2." Which teams are duds?"

There are a bunch of well qualified candidates but the biggest duds in my opinion have to be the Cubbies, and Mets. Both of these teams were pre-season favorites to at the very least contend for the playoffs, but now they are fighting to stay out of the cellar. The Cubbies and Mets have been decimated by injuries, inconsistent pitching and hitting. The Mets have seen Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes all land on the DL for extended periods of time and they are sure feeling the losses. Their lineup without the big guns is just plain bad, featuring very little punch. Schneider, Murphy, Castillo, Cora, and Reed are journeyman, and while Sheffield has played far better than expected, one cannot overlook the fact that he is 40 yrs old and cannot adequately play the field.That leaves the team filling out the lineup card with one good player, David Wright. Not to mention that Citi Field has turned out to be a pitchers park and Wright can’t seem to find his power stroke at home. The Cubbies on the other hand were without Aramis Ramirez for most of the first half. Saw their two biggest off-season acquisitions Milton Bradley and Rich Harden completely implode, Geovany Soto test positive for marijuana, and now will have to enter the second half without Ryan Dempster who fractured his big toe. Only a season removed from racking up the best records in the big leagues, this team is a complete mess and will not be making the playoffs this year.

3. "Which teams are just straight whack?"

Obviously the Nationals immediately come to mind. They are still the only team stuck in the win column in the 20’s. They currently sit 22.5 out of the east! But hey, if they keep it up they are going to end up with Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, so I say keep up the tanking. With that said I’m also going to have to crown the D-backs and the Indians the kings of whack. In the D-backs defense they were essentially out of the race the first week, when their staff ace Brandon Webb went down with a serious case of shoulder bursitis. An injury that may end up sidelining him all year. Dan Haren, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Max Scherzer have been absolute beasts this year but without that elite sinker from Webb they are scrambling to stay ahead of the torn down and rebuilding Chernobyl Padres. The Indians went into the season with question marks at almost every position but no one expected them to be this bad. It has been a terrible year for the tribe who seemed to be on the verge of becoming a contender only a few seasons ago. Grady Sizemore has struggled with injuries, Fausto Carmona was demoted to low A ball, Matt Laporta was rushed to the big leagues. The Indians have somehow managed to fall behind the Royals in the standings and have the worst record in the AL. which is downright shameful. However, on the bright side, Travis Hafner seems to have overcome his shoulder injury, Cliff Lee has continued to pitch well and Victor Martinez did make his third straight all-star game!

4."Who is on a hotter seat, "J.P. Ricciardi, or Mark Shapiro"?

Hate to take the easy way out, but I am going to have to say that neither guy is on the hot seat. They are both highly respected baseball guys who have a superb body of work and either guy would be a hot commodity if their services were not retained. Both Ricciardi and Shapiro may have losing products this year but their lack of success is not entirely their fault. In my opinion the losing can be attributed to both franchises request to maintain a low payroll and of course costly injuries.

5. "Who is your Stud MVP, and Dud Player of the year?

Stud MVP- Albert Pujols

No brainer, forget the triple crown! We are going to need to start thinking up new awards for King Albert. He is the only guy in the league with more than 30 hrs.
He is currently leading the league in almost every category, including runs, home runs, total bases, RBI’s, walks, OBP, slugging, and OPS.


DPOY-Dice k

Reports are out there that while he’s listed on the DL with shoulder fatigue, he really isn’t injured, and that the Red Sox’s were forced to place him on the DL, because he refused to be sent down to the minors and takes too long to warm up to be an effective reliever. The 100 million dollar prodigy has been a complete bust this year and what is even more shocking is that among all American League pitchers with at least 30 innings, Matsuzaka ranks 13th in average run support, which means that the Red Sox have put him in an opportunity to win and he is still faltering. Only time will tell if Dice K has a hurt shoulder, has lost his confidence or has merely been figured out by the rest of the league.


6. "Who are the division/wildcard winners For the AL/NL?

American League-It is going to be a tough race all year between the Yankees, Rangers and D-rays, with the Yankees coming out on top. National league- I am going to make a surprise move and take the Braves. Full second half with McClouth. I love the staff and think Lowe, Jurrjens, Vasquez, Kawakami and Hanson will start to push their way to the top after the All-Star break.

By:Morgan Spokny

NBA news and notes from around the league; FA edition

The 2009 NBA free agency is under way and here are a few questions for Morgan from our loyal readers pertaining to the recent moves throughout the league.

1. ” The Celtics are the latest team to come out of Free Agency landing Rasheed Wallace, clearly by signing the grizzled veteran this shows that the Celtics are preparing for another title run, but what do you make of the Pistons signing Villanueva and Gordon? In your opinion is this a team rebuilding or staying in the hunt”?

First lets address the Wallace signing. It’s a great move for Rasheed and the Celts. After falling victim to injuries last year, the Celtics will look to rebuild from a disappointing season and this is exactly the guy to add to the nucleus. I grew up in Portland watching Rasheed and while he always had issues staying on the court due to his loud mouth, he may be one of the most underrated players of the last decade. He brings a great post up game, spot up 3 point ability, solid rebounding and interior defense and most importantly he is yet another guy that has a ring which will definitely help in the post-season. This move instantly makes the Celtics the favorite in the East, and pushes them to the top of my power rankings. Not only was this a superb addition to the club, he signed relatively cheaply (2 yrs 12 mill), and will get plenty of opportunities. It’s a solid move for both sides and seems like a perfect match made in heaven.

With that said lets step into the second part of the question. The Pistons are rebuilding but will definitely be staying in the hunt. One of the quirkiest things about basketball is that under good management and scouting it is very easy to turn around a franchise because the roster size is relatively so small. A team really only needs to fill 5 to 8 roster spots, and all it takes is one good draft pick to change the entire face of a franchise. The Pistons should remain competitive and in the mix but still don’t have enough to rival the powerhouses, Boston, Orlando and Cleveland who have all been busy making moves this off-season.

Ben Gordon was the biggest of two moves made by Detroit this off-season, signing for (5 yrs 50 mill). It’s certainly an interesting move for Joe Dumars and it probably wont be the last of this off-season for Detroit. Gordon is a legit scorer who can spread the court and shoot the 3, posting at least a 40 % average every year of his career which is very impressive. He has also shown that he is pretty clutch, as shown last year in the playoffs where he averaged 24 pts. He gives the pistons a totally new look but his scoring ability can only be utilized if he is given the opportunity and playing time. You would imagine since he was given 50 mill, and was the pistons early splash that he will get the minutes but that means that franchise shooting guard Richard Hamilton’s days in Detroit may be limited. Early rumors have speculated about a Hamilton/Boozer swap, which is an interesting idea and may end up being a great move for both teams.

However, if they deal Hamilton for Boozer they will leave Villanueva feeling a crunch to his minutes. I’ve always liked Villanueva ever since the first time I saw him play alongside Lebron at the McDonalds All-American game. He has always had issues regarding his intensity and while he exploded statistically last year, he may get lost in the mix in DET and start to lose focus which will subsequently hurt his numbers. If they can clear him some room and find him the minutes I think this could be a great signing. However, Detroit has always relied on a deep bench and unfortunately that seems to be the same case this year. Charlie has some good upside and I could conceivably see him improving on his 17 and 7 season of last year, but I can also see him getting limited pt, losing focus and never realizing that potential.

2.” What can we make of the Mavericks resigning Jason Kidd for three years”?

For much of his playing days he was the best point guard in the universe. Now, after being humbled by the NBA’s new elite playmakers and being forced to reinvent himself he is hoping to prove he still has enough gas left in the tank to end years of disappointment in Dallas. Along the way he has considerably improved his outside shot and there is no questioning that he still can rack up the assists with the best of them. While he remains one of the strongest and biggest pg’s in the league he just doesn’t possess the speed to be considered one of elite pg‘s in the league. However, with that said he is still a top 10 pg in the league and was definitely helped out by the lack of depth at pg during this years FA, which subsequently allowed him to command top dollar (3 yrs 25 mill plus). The competition, Andre Miller and Mike Bibby fall into the same boat as Kidd, as each is aging and has a flaw or many flaws to their game. The Mavericks never seem to be able to get over the hump and it’s only gotten worse since being bounced in the finals a few years back. In my opinion the Mavericks are in the same boat as the Pistons, good enough to make the playoffs, but little threat to win it all.

3.” Does the loss of Hedo Turkolou and the addition of Vince Carter, cause the Magic to take a step back, or will this move help them get over the hump and win it all in 2010?

First lets talk about the addition of Hedo and how it will effect Toronto. The signing of Hedo does come at the expense of having to move Marion to the Mavericks, which isn’t going to kill the team as Marion has lost his star power since leaving Phoenixs fast paced offense. Hedo is a guy who is really cashing in on his great post season performance, and while I do like him as a scorer, I think the (5 yr 53 mill) price tag is far too pricey especially in this market. He blossomed with the increased playing time in Orlando but before he came to the Magic he was a fringe player with little value and considering that teams could of picked up Ariza for nearly 20 mill less, I think Toronto over spent for his services.

However, with that said he was one of only five players in the NBA to average at least 19.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. The other four players were Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. So the question remains, did the magic pull away from the pack by trading Courtney lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie for Carter and his nearly 35 mill owed on his contract? No, but I think they are at the very least on par talent wise with last years roster or even slightly better. I still like the Rasheed Wallace signing and I have to give the Celtics the pre-season edge, but the Magic are at the very least staying competitive and giving themselves a chance. Vincanity brings name notoriety and will help sell tickets and merchandise. He may not have the same explosiveness to his game, but he can still spread the court alongside Rashard Lewis and open up the interior for Dwight. I have a hunch that he will be focused and ready for a great year, and put up some nice numbers since he has a legit shot at winning an elusive title. Financially the team may have taken a huge shot in terms of its flexibility but only time will tell when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and compnay hit the open market.

4. ” Why can’t the Artest signing with the Lakers work”?

I Definitely have mixed feelings about the Artest signing (5 yrs 32 mill). A few years ago his stock was exceptionally low as he was throwing around the threat of quitting playing ball to work on his album, my world. And of course how could we not mention the unforgettable fight where he and a few other guys went into the stands and assaulted fans. Artest is at the top of his value right now and his perceived worth is so much higher than it was a few years ago. Realistically there still exist lingering issues regarding his focus and attitude in LA, but my gut feeling is that under the tutelage of the Zen master Phil Jackson, Artest will not step out of line off the court and will fill in nicely as a defensive stopper on the court. Artest may just end up working as he is more proven than Ariza, but the loss of Ariza will be most certainly felt and with the recent big transitions throughout the league and teams taking advantage of the weakened economy by stockpiling talent on the cheap, it leaves me wondering if the Lakers will have enough to win another championship next year.

5. “Should the focus for the Rockets have been to seek out a center and not a swing like Trevor Ariza”?

I think it’s a great move for whoever lands Ariza. Early reports were that he signed with Houston, but recently there has been speculation that he may sign with Cleveland. I love Ariza and he is a great signing considering his age and potential. He has improved his long game since he played down the road at UCLA and is an elite perimeter defender who was among the league leaders in steals (1.67 per/game) in limited playing time. Not to mention that he is extremely athletic and can really finish in the transition game. He was an intricate piece for Lakers last year, and it is really surprising to see the Lake show low ball Ariza and let him walk. Cleveland could certainly use Ariza especially since all the East contenders from last year are upgrading and they can’t afford to be left out of the loop, especially if they want to retain king james who may be filling for Free agency.
Now lets talk about the Ariza signing and the Rockets. Sure, the Rockets could have used a new center to replace Yao, as of right now they are going to have to rely on 6′9 Luis Scola which leaves them playing pretty small. We all know how teams fare when they get into the playoffs and play undersized. But as is the case in most years, bigs are a tough commodity to find and there weren’t really any viable options available this off-season. The only true center available was Anderson Varejao, who has had a hard enough time getting paid by Cavaliers for the last few years and earlier this off-season threatened to opt out of his deal, although he recently agreed with the Cavaliers on a pricey extension. A big like Varejao can realistically command considerably more money even in this weakened market than the 35 million Ariza reportedly signed for, simply because teams have to overpay for size.

It really doesn’t make any sense for the Rockets to overpay for the likes of Varjeao to fill a vacant hole when they could spend the money on Ariza and drastically improve their overall talent elsewhere. Drew Gooden, Lamar Odom, Paul Millsap, Chris Anderson, Zaza Pachulia are available but none of them possess the height to fill the void left by Yao. So with that said, yes they are in need of a Center, as is the case for most of the league, but none currently exist on the market, unless they want to really overpay. I like that they signed a young, up and comer for a relatively cheap price. Ariza will help them reach the playoffs again this year, even in the perennially tough western conference.

6. ” Based on the draft and the moves so far during the NBA free Agency, rank your top 5 teams?

1). Boston- Even without any 1st round picks the Celtics are number one because of the huge addition of Rasheed Wallace. A healthy KG, Pierce, Rondo, Allen, Wallace is just too nice to ignore. The Wallace signing is enough for the Celtics to leap frog the pack and take the title in 2010.

2). Orlando- The tides have changed as the East begins to take over the power in the league. No 1st rd pick to speak of, but it doesn‘t even matter. They traded off Lee, Alston, Battie, and Hedo but brought in Carter and that is enough for me. The Magic sure hope they aren’t getting fools gold and I am going to take a stance right now and make a bold statement, Carter will average close to 25 points and be in consideration for a MVP. Even with all those losses, the Magic seem more intact than the Lakers and I have them jumping in front of the power rankings as of right now. We still have to see what the Lakers do regarding Odom or what replacement they can find with cash they save.

3). Los Angeles- Wait, do you see a trend? Hmm, I do, contenders once again pass on the draft as the Lakers deal off their pick for cash considerations. The Knicks trade for the pick and take Toney Douglas in exchange for the cash. The lakers this off-season essentially swapped Ariza for Artest. We are still waiting to hear from Odom, but sounds like he will be walking and that leaves the Lakers in quite a predicament, but still very talented.

4.) Cleveland- An Off-season where they have yet to sign any real big Free agents but they still managed to improve the team. They resigned Varejao and traded for Shaq and maybe this will be enough to help the Cavaliers win it all, but going into the season they seem like the 4th best team on paper. We will have to wait and see what kind of combo, Shaq and Lebron will make, but I for one am tickled with excitement to see what happens.

Toss-up 5/6
Sa/Denver- They are pretty interchangeable to me and they round out the top 5/6- Neither team had any picks in the 1st, which is down right shocking! San Antonio is hoping to stay healthy and the Nuggets are looking to build on their success from last year. It should be a tough power ranking race all the way down to the end of the year. The Spurs are getting older but seemed to have added some pieces along the way last year and the Nuggets will look to continue the learning process for Carmelo and Smith.

By:Morgan Spokny