Reyes, now Pujols?

It seems as if the Boss’s ghost has bought the Marlins. After the Bell and Reyes signings, apparently the Marlins are in on Pujols—for a 10-yr. deal. They better hope Pujols actually IS 31.

In the NFL, the Bears are wise. No interest in talking to Favre, no matter what their QB troubles are.

The Twins deal P Kevin Slowey (27) to Colorado for a PTBNL. Slowey had an awful 2011, 0-8, 6.67, ERA+ 60. Career? 39-29, 4.66, ERA+ 90. He’s 20.

Fired managers and ex-players have to love ESPN. Terry Francona replaces Bobby V in the booth for ESPN—after Bobby V replaces Francona as Boston mgr.

Rumor has P Mark Buehrle down to five teams.

The Pirates are interested in signing INF Wilson Betemit (30, KC/Det. 2011, .285-8-46, OPS+ 117, career OPS+ 105, .269 b.a.) to a deal as well as bringing back OF Nate McLouth (30).  McLouth platooned with the Braves, .228-4-16 in 2011, OPS+ 89. McLouth’s best year was in the ‘burgh in 2008, when he was an All-Star, GG, and finished 27th in MVP voting with a .276-26-94 year, 23 steals and a league-leading 46 doubles. Once dealt to Atlanta in 2010, he went south….in more ways than one.

The Cards apparently have P Kyle Lohse on the block…in order to make room for someone else? Lohse did win 14, with a 3.39 ERA, for the 2011 WS Champs.

Mets moves: Trade Angel Pagan (30, .262-7-56, 32 SB, OPS+ 93 in 2011, .279, OPS+ 101 career) to SF for Andres Torres in a trade of CF. Torres hit .221-4-19, 19 SB, 82 for SF in 2011. Alsong with Torres, the Mets get Ramon Ramirez, 30, 3-3, 2.62 in 2011. ERA+ 136. The Mets also signed Jon Rauch. The big righty (6’10”, 33) was 5-4, 4.85 for Toronto in 2011 with 11 saves but an ERA+ of just 88. Career 39-31, 3.82, ERA+ 113.

The Mets also signed Frank Francisco, 32, who along with Rauch was with Toronto in 2011. Francisco was 1-4, 3.55, ERA+ 120 with 17 saves. Career 18-19, 3.72, ERA+ 124.

Santo elected to HOF

Ron Santo, who played in Chicago from 1960-1974, was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Santo played for the Cubs in all but his last season, when he went to the Big Bad Leroy Brown part of town (the South Side of Chicago, where the White Sox reside).

Santo hit 342 career HR, 337 as a 3B. The only players to hit more HR as a 3B were Schmidt, Mathews, Chipper Jones, Nettles, and Matt Williams. Santo’s 337/342 is just above Gary Gaetti’s 332/360. If you are shocked that Gaetti had 360 HR, you aren’t alone. So was I.

Santo was a 9x All-Star, with 5 Gold Glove awards. His .277 average and 342 HR were established in an era known for its pitching (Carlton, Seaver, Gibson, Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Bunning). Santo’s OPS+ was a 125. Four times he finished in the top 10 of MVP voting. He topped 30 HR each year from 1964-1967 and he drove in 100 or more runs four times. He died last year at the age of 70. Santo retired at the age of 34. He battled diabetes his whole life and eventually had both legs amputated.

Of course, as a Cub (before divisional play and the wild card), Santo, like his teammate Ernie Banks, played in no postseason games.

Missing out in the Veterans Committee vote were Jim Kaat, Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, and my personal favorite, Allie Reynolds, among others.

So I read today where Brett Favre will listen if the Bears (hurting for a QB with Cutler out) come a’calling. My response, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I read good things about Yankees prospect Mason Williams today. How some in the organization expect the 20 yr. old OF to rise quickly, and they expect him to start at High-A Tampa. Williams hit .349 with 28 SB at Staten Island this past season, in just 68 games. I will just beat John Sterling to the punch right here with the first “Classical Gas” mention of Mason Williams. (If you don’t know…Classical Gas was a hit instrumental for a musician named Mason Williams in 1968).

So, you are wondering why the Yanks haven’t made a move yet? Try this. The Yanks asked about John Danks from the White Sox. The asking price? Manny Banuelos AND Jesus Montero. For a guy who was 8-12, 4.33, ERA+ 97 last year and who is 54-56, 4.03 ERA+ 111 in his career.

Supposedly the Phils are shopping Polanco. One report has that they were going to trade him for Michael Young of the Rangers last year. The Rangers backed out. Could you imagine Young on the Phils?

Hmmm. Aaron Harang goes to the Dodgers, who got Adam Kennedy last week as a backup inf. Harang was 14-7, 3.64, ERA+ 98 for the Padres in 2011. 95-94, ERA+ 101 (epitome of average?) in his career. Then the Dodgers sign Jerry Hairston, Jr. (.270-5-31, OPS+ 99 for Washington/Milw. this past season). Previous to that, they signed Chris Capuano. I thought they were broke after that McCourt divorce and were for sale?

Rumor is that the Nats have offered C.J. Wilson a six-year deal. They better hope if they get him that his first year in D.C. is better than Jayson Werth’s.

Miami (after Bell and Reyes) is now after Pujols? Since when did they become the Yankees?

Update: Apparently it’s not the Nats who offered the six-year deal to Wilson. I like what SI’s Jon Heyman wrote:

Excellent point by an al exec: “if cj wilson has a legitimate 6 year offer he should just take it.”

The Angels are in on Wilson, which would give them Wilson, Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana.

Meanwhile,  another tweet from Heyman:

hearing #Marlins boosted offer to pujols to 10 years, matching arod’s in length. they are obvs pushing hard.

Umm….if Pujols isn’t 31 (many suspect he’s older), that 10-year deal could really be a problem.

NL MVP goes to Votto, almost unanimously.

No surprise in the NFL. Childress gets axed. Now if Favre only realizes that he should pack it in.

I don’t follow NASCAR, but five titles in a row (Jimmy Johnson) is impressive.

AL MVP announced tomorrow. 

As for today, the NL MVP award was announced. The winner?

Joey Votto. Almost unanimously. 31 of 32 first place votes. The other went to runnerup Albert Pujols.

Votto becomes the first Red to win the award since Barry Larkin in 1995.

 

   

Game 107. Yanks try to break skid. Afternoon game.

I’ll be at work as Hughes takes the mound this afternoon. A three-game losing streak has dropped the Yanks out of first.

NBA news: Shaq going to Boston?

NFL: Favre. For real this time?

SB 44 to be Colts-Saints.

I don’t have a rooting interest for SB 44 (yeah, I dispense with those damned Roman Numerals. I wish the NFL would already).

I just want a good Super Bowl, which is why I was rooting for the Colts and Saints today (even though I was at work until about 10 minutes left in regulation for the 2nd game, Vikes-Saints). I wanted Colts-Saints for various reasons. One  of which was that the Colts started 14-0, the Saints 13-0. I truly felt that the best matchup was this based on the fact that both teams were undefeated for 13 games.

I didn’t want the Jets (sorry, Tim) because of Rex. I couldn’t tolerate Buddy and don’t care much for Rex. Too much hot air for my taste. One of my brothers and I had a big laugh when Buddy went to Arizona and said “you’ve got a winner in town.” Yes, he had rings as an assistant with the Jets and Bears, but with the Eagles he didn’t win a playoff game. Winner? As head coach? Where? Yes, he took the Eagles to the playoffs, but Buddy didn’t win a playoff game. Some fog hurt him, but still…

As for the Saints, I wanted it for the people hurt by Katrina. I also could not and cannot root for Favre after the Drama Queen’s antics the past two seasons.

That said, to the games. I missed all of the first game due to being at work and have to check ESPNews for the highlights—most likely tomorrow morning since I got to get some shut-eye now. Surprisingly, the Jets got off to a 17-6 lead, but Manning brought the Colts back. An important start in the turnaround came when he executed the two-minute drill just before the half and got the TD to cut the halftime score to 17-13.

The second half was all Colts. A 30-17 final. I don’t know what the spread will be for the Super Bowl, but my guess is Colts by 3 or 4 over the Saints.

Now the question. Best Colts QB ever…what’s your choice, Unitas or Manning?

As for the Saints game, I got out of work with it 21-21. A fumble led to a Saints TD. Favre brought the Vikings back. Tie game. At the end of regulation, Favre had the Vikings in FG range, then did what I don’t like about Favre. It would have been a long FG to win the game. WIth 19 seconds or so left, I expected Favre to throw an out. Pick up 10 more yards to give your kicker a little more cushion, kick the FG and go to Miami. Instead, Favre threw the ball across the field—to the middle of the field. I wonder, had it been caught, if there even would have been enough time for the FG or if time would have expired. But in throwing it across to the middle, it got picked.

Shades of two years ago, when in his last game as a Packer, a Favre INT led to a Giants OT victory in that NFC title game.

The Saints won the OT flip and Favre never saw the ball again. Brees took the Saints down the field. The FG was made (although I would have kicked the FG on 3rd down, not 4th; had there been a bad snap on 3rd down, throw it away. Give yourself two chances to win the game, not one. Say a lineman moves on the 3rd down play or is called for holding. You take yourself out of FG range. Play it safe. What if Brees fumbles the snap on 3rd down? Give yourself two chances on the FG, not one).

I don’t mean to pick on Favre. I do think throwing it back to the middle was a terrible move.

I will say this. I saw the last 10 minutes and the OT. I never, in that short space of time, saw so many reviewed plays or challenges.

Some Twitter accounts have the Yanks exploring trade possibilites for LF. Remember what I wrote about Juan Miranda, stuck behind Teixeira, Nick Johnson and Swisher. To me, he seems like trade bait.

Update: I see where Manning said something like “we just kept our mouths shut and went to work this week.” A shot at Rex?    

 

A Damon “CD”? and thoughts on the AFC/NFC title games.

Hmm, I got to thinking of appropriate Johnny Damon songs right now. Maybe you can help out. We might make a CD out of this.

Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out) by John Lennon
Mr. Lonely, by Bobby Vinton
Lonely Boy, by Paul Anka
I Ain’t Got Nobody (only half of the medley), David Lee Roth
Ain’t Got No Home, Clarence “Frogman” Henry
Where Were You (When I Needed You), the Grass Roots
Searchin’, the Coasters
Money, Barrett Strong (or the Beatles cover version)
Take a Chance on Me, Abba
Lonely Days, Bee Gees
Only the Lonely, Roy Orbison

Ok, I’ll stop there. Feel free to add your own.

Ironic, and a few people point this out. The Colts sacrificed the perfect season and “handed” the Jets a win—a win that without it, the Jets don’t make the playoffs. Now, that decision might bite the Colts in the ass if the Jets pull off an upset on Sunday.

For all the talk about Colts/Jets (and you know SB III will be brought up), Joe Namath, to me, was NOT the star of SB III, despite his SB MVP trophy. Matt Snell ran for 121 yards. Tom Matte, in defeat, rushed for 116—on only 11 carries. Johnny Unitas had missed the 1968 season due to an injured arm and in his place, Earl Morrall led the Colts to a 13-1 record (including a 34-0 pasting of the Browns in the NFL title game) and won the MVP. Morrall, however, was terrible in the Super Bowl (6 for 17, 3 INT) and was replaced by the sore-armed Unitas late in the game. It was Unitas who led the Colts to their only score in the 16-7 Jets victory. Unitas was 11 for 24 for 110 yards, 1 INT.

Namath did go 17 for 28, 206 yards, 1 INT. But how many remember that the TD was on a run by Snell? How many remember that Namath didn’t throw a TD pass in that game? To me, Snell or George Sauer (8 rec. 133 yards) outshone Broadway Joe.

Here’s another surprise from that game, one I didn’t realize until checking Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

New York entered the game with their primary deep threat, wide receiver Don Maynard, playing with a pulled hamstring. But his 112-yard, two touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders in the AFL championship game made the Colts defense pay special attention to him, not realizing he was injured. Using Maynard as a decoy—he had no receptions in the game—Joe Namath was able to take advantage of single coverage on wide receiver George Sauer, Jr.. (After studying the Colts’ zone defense, Ewbank had told his receivers, “Find the dead spots in the zone, hook up, and Joe will hit you.”)^[2] The Jets had a conservative game plan, emphasizing the run and short, high-percentage passes to minimize interceptions. Meanwhile, with the help of many fortunate plays, the Jets defense kept the Colts offense from scoring for most of the game.

How many remember that the Colts coach for that game was Don Shula? Or that the Jets coach, Weeb Ewbank, was the one who took the Colts to NFL titles in 1958 and 1959?

Turning to the NFC, the Vikings play the Saints. We already know about the AFC. The Colts just won a SB three years ago. If the Jets make it to the SB, it’ll be their first time back since SB III.

If the Saints win, it’ll be their first SB appearance. As for the Vikings, should they win, it’d mark their first SB appearance since getting pasted by the Raiders 32-14 in SB XI, the end of a run in which the Vikings lost SBs (let’s dispense with the damned Roman numerals already) 4, 8, 9 and 11.

How many of you remember that the Viking QB in SB 4 was Joe Kapp?

I must say, that even though I don’t like Favre or his shenanigans over the past couple of years, and thought he’d be showing his age right now, that what he is doing is remarkable. Time to separate my feelings vs. the reality of what he is doing.

Interesting to see the Chiefs get Weis and Crennel as coordinators.

 

Odds and ends. Who else this offseason? LF?

Interesting in that A-Jax and the Melkman are gone but nothing on LF. (Remember that Hairston and Hinske are free agents and we don’t know where they may be headed). So as of now you have Granderson, Gardner and Swisher, and despite everything, Cashman insists that Granderson is the CF.

So who plays LF? Damon has basically said that he knows that he doesn’t fit the Yanks’ payroll. To which I would like to add this to all the Holliday dreamers (nice pun this time of year, but unintended): If JD doesn’t fit the Yanks’ payroll, what makes you think Bay or Holliday will? Wouldn’t it just be easier to bring JD back? After all, he’s a proven entity in NY, unlike the others. Probably cheaper, too. But if he doesn’t fit, then Bay or Holliday won’t either.

As Mike Puma writes in the Post, Damon says that his price is too high for them right now. he doesn’t think he is their solution.

Cashman calls LF “an evolving situation.” I had my pick of Byrd. Who knows about DeRosa at $6M. It appears that JD won’t lower his demands to that range. Cashman states that he won’t be adding a major player to the OF.

What Cashman said I do agree with. It’s easier to find someone for LF than find a pitcher for the #4 spot—especially one who won 15 games last year, consistently gives 200 IP and 200K and was 4th in CYA voting.

No offense to MLBTR, but on 11/11 I pulled off their list of 2010 Top 50 Free Agents and their picks on where people would wind up. They have been consistently wrong. About the only ones they had correct were Pettitte back to the Yanks and Scutaro to Boston. That’s about it.

So who are the OF remaining on the list? Holliday, Bay, Damon (and if you believe Cashman, scratch all of them), Byrd, Vlad (if you think he can play the OF anymore; as with Matsui, I think not); Russell Branyan (yeah, I know, but I’m just listing him here because he has played LF in 150 games; no, I am not interested; great lefty power, .234 BA; 113 OPS+; tons of K’s; 162 game average .234-30-73 with 174 Ks. Last year for Seattle “all or nothing” Branyan hit .251-31-76 with 149 Ks, OPS+ 128). Jermaine Dye is also out there (mostly RF and I don’t think he would be good at switching to LF in Yankee Stadium; also 36 and if the Yanks don’t want to pay for a 36 year old JD, then Dye is off the radar, too).

…and one more name. I wonder if he fits the Yanks plans. I obviously don’t have the medical records and don’t know how that throwing arm is recovering…

but could the 2010 LF be the X-man? Xavier Nady? Nady is a free agent who has no leverage, missing most of the 2009 season (8 for 28, 4 doubles, 2 RBI). Nady is a .280 career hitter. 162 game average .280-21-78. I’d like him to walk a bit more, as his bb/k ratio is 34/107. The career OPS+ is 108.

This offseason, we look at all kinds of various lineups with possible pickups/trades. Let’s say (and I’ll use the Johnson 2nd scenario rather than the Johnson 5th, which is what I’d prefer).

Jeter SS
Johnson DH (with the OBP)
Teixeira 1b
Alex 3b
Granderson CF
Nady LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF

I put it that way for R/L/S/R/L/R/S/L/S.  … and batting 9th is a guy who had 29 HR and 82 RBI last year. Let me say it again… insane.

I am wondering if Nady may be the rabbit up Cashman’s sleeve. He made $6.55 M in 2009 but $3.35M in 2008 and $2.15M in 2007. Unlike JD, who is coming off a great year and great postseason, Nady has no leverage, coming off a wasted year.

You wonder about his health. Maybe Cashman sees the medical records. Maybe the X-man is the answer at $2M with incentives?

Today I heard talk about that other team in NY. Are they still alive? Good point on Colin Cowherd’s show. Bay turned down Boston, and apparently the only other offer is from the Mets? Shows how badly he wants the Mets, right? The same goes with Benjie Molina, whom the Mets also offered a contract to. Neither exactly rushed to sign it. Not only that, Jason Marquis, a NY lad, didn’t sign with the Mets but went to…the Nationals.

Nice piece by Joel Sherman today. Apparently the Yanks were aware that Holliday would require too much (and Toronto would prefer keeping him out of the division), the Phils wouldn’t like dealing Lee to the team that just beat them in the Series, and despite looking at Harang, Zambrano and a free-agent crop including Piniero, Washburn (looking at him yet again) and Garland, they weren’t bowled over by any of them.

Also interesting in Sherman’s take that Vazquez may have better stuff than Lackey but the fortitude question comes up.

I see Sherman (as I read his column now) raised the point I discussed yesterday: about Vazquez being a 4, and not the projected ace of 2004. Sherman also points out what I pointed out above: Nady on a low-base, high incentive contract could be an option. Lastly he points out something else I mentioned yesterday: either Hughes or Joba gets #5 with the “loser” setting up Mo. Some loss. Other teams would like “losers” like that, right? So it may appear that those who wanted Joba in the bullpen all along (and then take over for Mo) may be getting their wish.

Sad news today for one like me who was a child in the 1960’s (that is age-wise; child IN the 60s not OF the 60’s!): Connie Hines, who played Mrs. Wilbur Post on Mr. Ed, died.

I know he is doing well with the Vikings but I can’t take the Brett Favre drama anymore. The wanting to go back with the Pack after announcing his “retirement.” The going to the Jets. More wishy-washiness. Now the incident(s) with Childress. It seems like Favre thinks he is bigger than the NFL sometimes. I respect his accomplishments… as for the man himself, not so much.

Lastly, let’s hope that Vazquez has a bit of “Ralph Terry” in him. Vazquez, of course, gave up the grand slam to JD in Game 7 of the ALCS that ensured Boston’s 2004 comeback. Let’s hope for redemption, ala Terry. After all, it was Terry who gave up Mazeroski’s WS-winning HR in 1960, only to win two games in the 1962 WS, becoming the MVP of that Series. A 1-0 shutout in Game 7. Granted he got a little lucky when McCovey’s liner went straight to Richardson, but after Maz, Ralph could use the luck.

For those bashing the trade because of what happened in 2004, they best remember their Yankee history and hope the redemption Terry received in 1962 is experienced by Vazquez.  

Whither special teams?

As a Penn State alum and a Steelers fan, usually I watch the same brand of football. Solid running game, strong defense, good special teams.

Um. Strike that last one for the 2009 season—for both teams. Penn State’s big weakness this year has been its special teams unit.

And today, for the fourth time in the last five games, the Steelers gave up a kickoff return TD. This time it was the opening kickoff. It’s costly as the Steelers lose in OT 27-24. Without that…

Not only that, the Steelers outgain KC by a huge margin. The kickoff return. Another return (long INT return) that sets up points. Big Ben threw for plenty of yards, but the Steelers still lost.

And the Tazmanian Devil as I call him—Polamalu—is out a month. Ouch.

There is only one thing for me to say…

What is going on out there? Besides me, some special teams coaches must be pulling their hair out. It’s every week.

Vikings still rolling. As much as I don’t like Favre’s wishy-washiness the past few years concerning his retirement, I have to begrudgingly give him his due as of now. Speaking of tearing his hair out, Tim the Wizard might be doing that regarding Favre right now…since he is a Jets fan and had Favre last year.  

Game 122. Yanks win slugfest, 20-11.

Message sent. I don’t like the final score, for after the Yanks took a 12-1 lead, the pitching got sloppy. From 12-1 to 20-11.

Pettitte only lasted 5, giving up 5 runs, but got the win. I didn’t like how he let 12-1 get to 12-5. Still, he improves to 10-6, and the way he’s pitched in the last month and getting no decisions, he deserved a “garbage” win. It’s too bad he finished 14-14 last year, for he is 10-6 now, and as I wrote so often last year, only Babe Ruth has a winning record in each and every season he got a decision in. Had Pettitte gotten one more win last year…

Pettitte was charged with 7 r, 5 earned. 10-6, 4.25. Bruney went 1 1/3, and Marte, freshly back, was put into a non-pressure situation to ease him back (good move, Girardi) for 2/3 of an inning. Mitre was the Meat Tray again, serving up two meat balls (couldn’t tell if they were Swedish) in the 9th, giving up four runs. Nice 6.82 ERA for the Meat Tray.

Still, a 20-11 win. Jeter’s three hits take him to .333 and 2699 for his career. Matsui had 2 HR and 7 RBI. The guy just KILLS Boston. Teix had 3 hits and 3 RBI. A-Rod went 4 for 4 and Melky came alive with four hits.

Best yet…Aceves, Coke, Hughes and Mo all get an extra day of rest.

I figured 2 of 3 for the Yanks this weekend. One down. I figure Burnett over Tazawa today (I am writing at 12:15 Sat.). CC/Beckett a tossup.

Knowing Beckett, if the Yanks win tomorrow, does he throw some “purpose pitches” on Sunday night?

Nice for me to see Favre go 1-4 for 4 yards while Jackson lit it up. I do hope Favre tanks. Nothing personal against the guy, but I am so sick of his damned soap opera the last two years…       

Damon had to leave the game early after the first inning. He fouled a pitch off his leg. Hopefully he is Ok. Maybe Hairston gets a game tomorrow and JD gets LF off.

For the Yanks, a 7 1/2 game lead and the magic # is now 34.

Is it me, or does Eric Hinske remind you of Kevin James?

HInske.

Kevin James.

Separated at birth?      

Game 120. Yanks @ A’s preview

From Pete Abraham, the lineup. Godzilla is back.

YANKEES (74-45, +7)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (13-7, 3.64). 

I’m so sick of the Favre saga that quite frankly, I hope he tanks.

In 1978, when Bucky Dent hit that HR in Game #163, I was a senior in high school. I remember that year and the comeback very well. You can relive that year—or find out about it for the first time—with this website and via this book by Paul Keck.   

Update: Bases loaded, two out in the first, Posada whiffs. Bottom of the 1st, CC serves up a gopher ball. The Oakland problems (CC has a lousy record in Oakland) continue. The Yanks tie it in the top of the 2nd thanks to an error  but CC gives up another gopher ball in the 2nd.

2-1 A’s after two.     

Bedtime. I hate those West Coast games.