MLB Trades That Happened Over The Weekend

Texas Rangers add Mike Adams and Koji Uehara.
The Rangers have a lot of problems when it comes to their bullpen, so adding to of the best set up men certainly helps. Their combined stats are: 95 innings, 51 hits, 111 strikeouts, 17 walks. Also they control them for next year too.

Hunter Pence to Philadelphia Phillies
How do the Phllies constantly make awesome moves. They gave up some pretty good prospects but Pence fills a huge void in a what is a surprisingly bad Phillies line up. Pence will most likely take Raul Ibanez's spot out there, Ibanez is terrible in the field and is batting around .260. I like the deal.

Doug Fister and David Pauley to Detroit Tigers
Another move I'm in favor for, with Brad Penny being awful and the Tigers constantly having to call up some prospect to get rocked every 5th day, this should put a stop to the bleeding. Fister is 3-12, but remember he's on Seattle who is allergic to runs, he also has a 3.33 era and about 90 Ks. David Pauley should fit some of the bullpen void as well.

Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland Indians
I like this move for the Indians, a lot of people are saying that they gave up too much by involving top prospect Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, however, Ubaldo is 27, is coming off a 19 win season and flirts with 200 Ks a year. He could be an Ace for Cleveland who need a top of the line rotation guy. They have him for the next 3 years at a relatively cheap price. Like the aggressiveness by Cleveland.

Michael Bourn to Atlanta Braves
Good fit for the Braves who need an OF and need speed. They got both and didn't give up that much.

Red Sox @ Astros Preview

It has been a tough road trip for the Sox, but a trip to Houston can solve a lot of problems. Sure they still have to deal with their stupid rules, but this Houston is fucking terrible (29-53).

It's been awhile since the Wake has had to play Houston, actually the last time he did they were playing in that God awful dome (in 1993). The question is whether or not the Sox will score tonight. Boston won 14 of 16 games from June 3rd to June 20th averaging 8 runs a game, since then the Sox have slowed considerably, averaging 2.5 runs while during a 2-6 stretch. I blame a lot of that on the fact we have to play stupid NL rules, but like I said before the Astros are so bad it shouldn't matter.

Going against the Wake is Bud Norris, who has a 2.00 ERA in his last three starts but has posted an 0-2 record, why? Say it with me now... Because the Astros suck.

Red Sox win 8-4
Player of the Game: Ellsbury
Game starts at 8:05pm

MLB Preview: Houston Astros

2010 Record: 76-86
Offense:

CF Michael Bourn
SS Clint Barmes
RF Hunter Pence
LF Carlos Lee
3B Chris Johnson
2B Bill Hall
1B Brett Wallace
C Jason Castro

This whole offense hinges on Michael Bourn who can turn a single into a double when he reaches base. He's led the NL 2 years in a row in stolen bases, unfortunately he his .265 last year. Carlos Lee is still hanging around, but unfotunately he sucks now. He's old and hit a career low .246 last year. Hunter Pence hit 25 homers last year and Chris Johnson showed some light hitting 11 in his rookie year. Also, Brett Wallace needs to get it going. He was an uber prospect last year but was only able to hit .222 and 2 home runs. His calling card was hit power and he showed none of it last year.

Pitching:
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
RHP Brett Myers
LHP JA Happ
RHP Bud Norris
LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith

Closer: RHP Brandon Lyon

Both Wandy and Myers pitched real well last year. Rodriguez went 11-12 last season, but his 3.60 ERA and 1.287 WHIP show he was much better than his record indicates. And even though I have little faith in Brett Myers, he did go 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA in 2010. Happ went a respectable 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 starts with Houston after coming over from Philadelphia and is looking to build on that, and the rest is garbage.

Overall:
Houston figures to have a average starting rotation, I still have huge concerns on the offensive side of the ball for this team.

Gross
57-105 (yea, I went there)

Clemens Banned From Astros

I wasn't even aware that Clemens was still connected with the Astros, but apparently he was until today...

"Roger Clemens signed a contract with the Astros in 2004 that locked him into a 10-year personal services deal with the team upon his retirement. Now, however, the Astros don't want the disgraced ace around the club. "I think everybody is just on hold until they see where he is with the government," Astros owner Drayton McLane told the New York Daily News on Thursday. "He doesn't get involved in any way in our spring training or when he goes to where [his son] Koby is on one of our minor league teams. He doesn't get involved in the activities of the team. He's strictly a parent and a spectator (WEEI)."

This is probably the best thing for the Astros and Clemens' son, because right now it is just better not to have to deal the the sinking ship that is Clemens life. I also think this could be a sign that Clemens is about to go down hard. His trial is coming up, and from everything I have been reading there is a good chance that he is going to jail (more so then Bonds). Either way, until he (and Bonds) have their names cleared of these charges everyone is better off with them not around MLB fields.

Oswalt About To Join Phillies? (UPDATED)

We have been hearing these rumors for the past couple of week, but today reports say that it is a done deal. The only thing holding up the deal is that Roy Oswalt needs to sign off on it (rumor is the Atros will get J.A. Happ and two prospects). This could be a big hold up, as Oswalt wants the Phillies to pick up his $12MM option for 2012. The Phillies have been very hesitant to do this, so it will be interesting to see who (if any) caves.

The Phillies are currently 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta for 1st place in the NL East, and 2 1/2 games behind San Fran for the Wild Card. If they were able to get Oswalt I would put them as the favorite to win the NL East. The Phillies are known for the 2nd half runs, and a guy like Oswalt could really start them on a nice run.

If Oswalt doesn't agree to the trade rumors suggest that they will turn their attention to Carmona.


***UPDATE***

Oswalt plans to OK the deal, but it's not official yet, reports Stark. He adds that the Astros will be sending $11MM. Rosenthal tweets that Oswalt's 2012 option will not be exercised; he'll be compensated some other way. ESPN's Amy K. Nelson tweets that Oswalt will get $1MM added by the Phillies to the buyout of his '12 option. She adds that the details are being worked out now regarding Oswalt retaining his no-trade clause.

Oswalt Making Life Hard For Phillies

Roy Oswalt's contract demands could be on the verge of blowing up a potential deal that would send the Houston Astros ace to Philadelphia. Oswalt is asking the Phillies, or any team that acquires him, to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade.

This certainly will make this deal far less likely to happen. The Phillies were happy to have Oswalt for this year and next, but beyond that they aren't so sure, and they really don't want to be guaranteeing him $16 million 3 years from now when he is already 32 years old.

Still, if the Phillies want to get back in this race then they are going to need at least another front line pitcher. That might not even solve their problems, as their hitting hasn't been all that great either. I would assume now that they will explore what it will take to get Haren (who I think is better), but that will most likely come with a very steep price.

Most reports suggest that the Cardinals are now the front runners to land Oswalt, as St. Louis is where he prefers to play next.

Phillies About To Make Moves

There are a bunch of rumors going around the MLB today, and most of them have to do with the Phillies. Basically they all have to do with the Phillies looking to unload Jayson Werth and/or grab another starting pitcher. The question is what level of pitcher are they looking for.

The hot rumor so far is that the Phillies are making a serious run at Oswalt, but they don't want to take on his contract unless they can move Werth (Oswalt is owed more than $7 million for the rest of this year and $16 million next season, and he has a $16 million option with a $2 million buyout for 2012). The other problem is that Oswalt will have to clear any trade, as he has a no trade clause. He has said he wants to stay more near Texas, but Philly is a proven winner, so I think if it came down to that he would go.

Other names that are being kicked around are Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ben Sheets. I'll tell you right now if the Phillies get Haren they are going to win it all.

In any of these deals (with the exception of Guthrie) the Phillies are going to have to free up some money (according to reports). Most people think that means Werth is on his way out. Werth has been linked to the Red Sox many times over the last month or so. It would be interesting what the Sox would have to give up to get him, but the price could be driven down quickly if the Phillies are able to land a starting pitcher for prospects.

Anyways, I do believe the Phillies will make a couple moves very soon, so keep an eye on this.

Could Berkman Be On The Move?

Lance Berkman made some interesting comments, and it is putting a lot of rumors in motion...

"If it was me and I was running the show here, if we didn't make a great comeback like we did in '05 and be sort of around .500 by the All-Star break, I'd try to trade every veteran I could to reload. That's the quickest way you're going to be able to reload and get it going in the right direction. As a player, if they came to me and said, 'Hey, we've got a deal to go to a contender,' I'd take it. Heck, it's only a three- or four-month deal. It's not like I'm signing on for 10 years with another team."

Basically, I wanted to write about this, because I know the Sox will be tied up in these rumors. Listen, I don't want him here. He is another guy who is passed his prime, and his currently hitting under .200 with 2 HRs. Yea, no thanks, we got enough of those.

I do expect Berkman to be traded though, and it will be very interesting to see what the Astros can milk out of a team. Berkman is in the last year final year of the six-year, $85 million deal, so a lot of what they can get will depend on two things.

1. How he plays the rest of this year.
2. If he will be willing to sign an extension.

2010 MLB Preview: Houston Astros

2009 Record: 74-88

Lineup:

1. CF Michael Bourn
2. 2B Kaz Matsui
3. 1B Lance Berkman
4. LF Carlos Lee
5. RF Hunter Pence
6. 3B Pedro Feliz
7. SS Tommy Manzella
8. C J.R. Towles

Houston finished 27th in the majors in runs scored and 25th in OPS last season, and it lost its second-best RBI man from last season when Miguel Tejada signed with the Orioles in the offseason. Berkman isn't getting any younger, and this is probably his last year in Houston. Lee HR totals have been in decline, and over all am really not excited about this lineup at all.

Pitching:

1. RHP Roy Oswalt
2. LHP Wandy Rodriguez
3. RHP Brett Myers
4. RHP Felipe Paulino
5. RHP Bud Norris

PROJECTED CLOSER
RHP Brandon Lyon

I have always loved Roy Oswalt. I really thought he would be a Red Sox at some point, but that never happened. He had a down year last season posting an ERA around 4.12. Wandy is decent, but really needs to figure out a way to win on the road (5-9 4.05 ERA). Myers is a douchebag, and you have to wonder if that hip is 100% yet. Felipe Paulino is garbage, so there really isn't a whole lot of upside here. I do like Lyon, and think he can be a very good closer, but when that is your bright spot you know its going to be a long season.

Overall:

I don't like anything about this team. Poor Millsy, he is going to have a rough season. I don't even see them with 70 games this year.

2010 Record: 69-93

Astros Fire Manager Cecil Cooper

"The Houston Astros fired manager Cecil Cooper on Monday with 13 games left in another disappointing season. Third-base coach Dave Clark was named interim manager and things didn't change much Monday night as the Astros lost their eighth straight, 7-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, to drop to 70-80. General manager Ed Wade said the change couldn't wait until the end of the season. He added that more changes could be coming for a franchise just four years removed from its only World Series appearance.

"We're tasked with evaluating all aspects of our situation," Wade said. "At the end of the day, we're going to try to address those off-field issues that exist. We're not walking away from it. The issue we had to address here, in the short term, was the managerial issue and that's why we moved forward today (Sportsline)."

Can't say I really understand why the Astros just didn't wait till the end of the season, but in the end it really doesn't matter. This franchise was very good a couple years back, but have fallen further and further every year. I can't completely blame Cooper as I am not very high on the talent on this team. It will be very interesting to see if the Astros open up their wallets to try to land a couple big free agents...

Hampton Out For 2010 Season

"The Houston Astros say left-handed starting pitcher Mike Hampton will miss next season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. A statement issued by the Astros on Tuesday say surgeons at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York repaired a full left rotator cuff tear in Hampton's pitching shoulder. Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets' medical director, also repaired partial damage to the labrum in the shoulder (Sportsline)."

I always liked Hampton even though I really have no reason to. Anyways, this year, next year, and most likely his career are over. I think most people will remember him for his big contracts that he never lived up to, or the fact he was always a great hitting pitcher. Like in 2001 with the Rockies, when he would hit .291 with 7 home runs. The following season he hit .344.

Tejada Tipping Pitches?

"A report in the New York Times says that series of events on the field led several players to believe Tejada had been helping friends on opposing teams by tipping off pitches and by allowing balls they hit to get past him occasionally during games with lopsided scores (Sportsline)."

To me this is worse then any steroid allegation. This is direct cheating to the game. I can't pass judgement yet, because I don't have any proof to back it up other then this New York Times article. Tejada denies it...

"I've never tipped pitches," Tejada said. "I love this game and that's not the way I play it. I'm a proud player. I would never do such a thing."

I really hope he is telling the trust, but I have to admit I wonder at times. Similar allegations were made at A-Rod, so maybe this happens more then we think. Once again, I really hope this is all false...

Rangers Bring I-Rod Back

"Ivan Rodriguez is rejoining the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have agreed to trade two minor leaguers to the Houston Astros for Rodriguez, who was Texas' catcher the last time the franchise made the playoffs in 1999 (ESPN)."

I-Rod doesn't have much left in the tank, but the Rangers just need him to be the backup for Taylor Teagarden while Jarrod Saltalamacchia is on the DL. I-Rod is batting .251 with 8 HRS and 34 RBIs this season, but who knows you put him in this lineup and maybe he will take off a little bit. Anyways, solid pickup and they didn't give up much...

DP's Take:
Who would have thought pre-season that the Texas Rangers were going to need help at catcher. They started off the year with three great catching prospects in Salty, Teagarden, and Ramirez. Now with the uncertainty of Salty and Teagarden they turn to an old friend, Pudge. I am happy that Puudge is most likely going to retire with the Rangers because that is where I remember him the most. He is most likely going to retire a Ranger, and will go down in my eyes as the best catcher I have ever watches. Steroids or Not.

Tejada Gets 1 Year Probation

"With an apology to Congress, baseball and the kids who looked up to him, All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada received a sentence of one year of probation Thursday for misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Tejada faced possible prison time, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay issued a sentence of probation, 100 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. Kay waived drug testing often required of other convicts on probation and said he wouldn't restrict the Houston Astros player's travel (Sportsline)."

Well now we know the minimum that these players that lied to Congress will get. The reason Tejada was let off easy was because he only lied about his teammates drug use and not his own. The have no evidence to say Tejada used steroids, only that he got them (which he admitted). I applaud Congress for giving him a slap on the wrist, but still making it obvious that you can't just lie to them. Now comes the big dogs with Clemens and Bonds...if convicted they will not be getting off so lightly.

Aaron Boone Has Heart Problem

"Third baseman Aaron Boone, most known for his 11th-inning walkoff homer in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series against Tim Wakefield, told reporters this morning at the Astros camp that he will undergo open heart surgery soon to replace a damaged aortic valve in his heart. Boone was slated to be the Astros' starting third baseman. Boone was unsure of his future in baseball (Boston.com)."

Well he finally gave himself a heart attack (well no not really, but it sounds good). I still to this day have not seen that ball actually leave the ballpark. I saw Boone hit it, and then charged out of room, and went to bed. I hated him for almost a year. Basically until the Sox came back the next year from 3-0 to beat the Yankees. Anyways, I hope he is OK, but I never want to see him on a baseball field again.

Pudge To Houston

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Astros.

This isn't really breaking news due to Pudge sucking over the past couple of years. The former all-star catcher is now bringing the show to Houston, where he will see his numbers improve quite a bit because, the National league sucks. Pudge has been one of my favorite catchers ever, but at this point he is nothing more than a name. Hang it up after this year Pudge.

DC MLB Previews: Houston Astros

Key Additions:
Aaron Boone
Jason Michaels
Mike Hampton


Key Losses:
Mark Loretta
LaTroy Hawkins
Randy Wolf

Hitting:
1. Kazuo Matsui 2B
2. Hunter Pence RF
3. Lance Berkman 1B
4. Carlos Lee LF
5. Miguel Tejada SS
6. Geoff Blum 3B
7. Michael Bourn CF
8. Humberto Quintero C

Their hitting is very tricky to figure out. Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Tejada are all amazing, but their offense never seems to be explosive. Also, no one has a clue on whether Tejada is going to be his normal self this year after the whole lying about steroids thing. Matsui has and always will be a major disappointment. He will trick people into showing signs of promise than kill them by sucking for a month straight. Even though Bourne has a terrible average, the Astros should make him the lead off. His speed is unquestioned and I have more faith in him than Matsui.

Pitching:
1. Roy Oswalt RH
2. Wandy Rodriguez LH
3. Mike Hampton LH
4. Brian Moehler RH
5. Brandon Backe RH
Closer Jose Valverde RH

Oh boy. Roy Oswalt has to be traded this year. When Mike hampton is your third pitcher you know your team is in trouble. I'm not buying into Wandy Rodriguez and Jose Valverde is an adventure every time he touches the ball. The Astro's have worse pitching than the Dodgers.

Prospects:
Jason Castro C

Three catchers were in the top ten picks of the 2008 draft, and Castro was one of them. Now, why the Astros took another catcher, especially one as close to MLB-ready as Stanford graduate Castro is a bit of a head-scratcher, since they already have the very talented J. R. Towles under lock and key. But with first base looking like an opening in the near future, there should be somewhere to play both.\

Felipe Paulino RHP

A converted outfielder, Paulino threw 112 innings of Double-A ball in 2007 (3.69 ERA, 110 Ks : 49 BBs) before his cup of coffee tryout in Houston. Other than a gem of a two-hit performance against the eliminated Braves on September 30th, though, he failed to dazzle, which means he'll be back in AA next season.

Overview:
For some reason I have always hated the Astros. I would imagine this is the Astros rebuilding year. I also expect Tejada, Oswalt and Lee will all be moved. With such a horrendous pitching staff I don't see this team winning more than 61 games. That is why I have them with a record of 61 -101.

Bench Clearing... Chit Chats

Yesterday evening, I'm watching Baseball Tonight, and highlights of the Cardinals/Astros game comes on. I guess these two teams have a recent history of beanballs and hard slides. Brandon Backe throws up and in to Yadier Molina. Although the pitch didn't hit Molina, he does the token slow walk toward the mound. Slow enough so by the time he gets anywhere, the catcher, the umpires, the infielders, both benches, and both bullpens will be involved.



I got real cheesed when I saw this. First of all, hitters have become over reactive little girls when it comes to getting hit, or even brushed back by pitches. Grow up and take it like a fucking man, not some millionaire crybaby.

Second of all, if you're gonna make a move toward the mound, go all out. Start running for the pitcher, hope to get there a few seconds before everyone else so you can get a few good shots in. Or karate chop the catcher to remove your biggest threat.

Finally, when the benches clear, do something! Don't just mill around and play grab ass with each other. This is what you're supposed to do when the benches clear:



So you know what Major League Baseball should do? Make a new rule. Any hitter that intentionally moves onto the grass in front of home plate should be automatically ejected. It should be mandatory, like arguing balls and strikes. Even if they're not charging the mound, when they just step in front like Molina did, they cause both benches to clear. It causes nothing but trouble, and BORING trouble at that.

-The Commodore